f^  "Reminiscences 


of  an 


Ex  -  Confederate  Soldier 

or 

Forty  Tears  on  Crutches 


By 
T.  H.  "BOIFMAN 

Ex-Secretary  of  State  and  Ex-Superintendent 
of  State  Orphan  Home 


(iammel-Statesman   Publishing  Compan) 
Austin,    Texas. 


THE   AUTHOR— 1864. 


"Rjeminiscences 


of  an 


Ex -Confederate  Soldier 

or 

Forty  Tears  on  Crutches 


By 
T.  H.  "BOWMAN 

Ex-Secretary  of  State  and  Ex- Superintendent 
of  State  Orphan  Home 


Gammel-Statesman  Publishing  Company 
j4ustin,    Texas. 


INTRODUCTION. 

A  true  pen  portrait  of  an  individual,  distin- 
guished for  noble  traits  of  character  and  noted 
for  great  achievements  in  life's  work,  be  he  sol- 
dier, statesman,  preacher,  or  poet,  is  the  most  im- 
pressive and  perhaps  the  most  useful  form  of  his- 
tory. 

The  reader  finds  in  the  portrayal  that  which 
acts  as  an  incentive  to  imitate  the  good,  and  finds, 
too.  that  which  bids  him  shun  the  errors  and 
avoid  the  mistakes  of  him  of  whom  he  reads. 

If  biography,  then,  serves  so  useful  a  purpose 
in  the  field  of  literature,  may  it  not  be  that  auto- 
biography, with  egotism  eliminated,  might  be 
made  to  serve  the  same  high  purpose  by  present- 
ing what  ought  to  be  a  truer  picture  of  the  man 
and  his  work,  because  written  l)y  the  individual 
himself. 

The  author  lays  no  claim  to  distinction  great 
enough  to  be  heralded  to  the  world  by  his  own 
pen  or  that  of  another.  As  an  old  man  now, 
with  his  feet  at  the  water's  edge  of  that  cold,  nar- 
row sea  which  separates  the  mortal  from  immor- 
tality, he  feels  that  he  would  like  to  tell  the  story 
of  his  life,  and  tell  it  as  it  was. 

Trusting  that  it  may  not  prove  uninteresting 
to  the  pul)lic,  and  especially  to  Texans,  he  begs 
their  kind  indulgence  in  presenting  this  little 
volume  of  the  recollections  of  a  Confederate  sol- 
dier and  the  strange  twistings  of  a  life  of  forty 
vears  on  crutches. 


CONTENTS. 

I.     Birthplace— Childhood  on  the  Old   Plan- 
tation. 
II.     School   Days— Death   in   the   Home— Off 
to  College. 
III.     Civil  War. 
IV.     The  Confederate   Soldier. 
V.     The  Women  of  the  South. 
VI.     Confederate      Eeunions — Decorations     at 
Camp  Chase. 
VII.     A.  D.  1865. 
VIII.     Off  to  Europe. 

IX.     Reading    Law — Teaching     School — Move 
to  Texas — Belton  as  It  Was. 
X.     Xine  Years  at  Austin  as  Chief  Clerk  and 
Secretary  of  State. 
XL     On    Sheep   Ranch   in  the   West — Elected 
County  x^ttorney  and  County  Judge — 
Candidate   for   Congress — Lecturing. 
XII.     x\ppointed  Superintendent    of    State  Or- 
phan Home. 


Reminiscences 

of  an 

Rx -Confederate  Soldier;  or  Forty 
Years  on  Crutches 

CHAPTER  I. 


Birthplace — Childhood    on    the    Old    Plantation. 

James  Bowman,  son  of  j\Iatthew  Bowman,  of 
South  Carolina,  was  my  father.  Caroline  S. 
Bowman,  daughter  of  George  Dougherty  of  Mis- 
sissippi, was  my  mother.  My  father's  family  was 
English,  and  his  forefathers  came  to  America 
early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  Several  of  them 
fought  with  Marion.  My  mother's  family  was 
Irish  and  descended  from  the  great  Methodist 
preacher  of  same  name  in  South  Carolina. 

My  grand fatlier  was  a  typical  Irish  schoolmas- 
ter. It  was  said  of  him  that  he  could  spell  and 
define  any  word  in  the  English  dictionary.  He 
believed  in  the  rod,  and  woe  to  the  hoy  who  blun- 
dered in  tlie  blue-back  spelling  book. 

My  father  came  to  soutli  ^lississippi  before 
America's  second  war  witli  Ensrland.     His  brctther 


8  Remixiscexces  of  an 

Tra  was  with  Jackson  in  the  battle  of  New  Or- 
leans. In  a  large,  old-fashioned  farmhouse  in 
the  beautiful  Feliciana  country  in  southeast  Louis- 
iana, I  was  born,  nearly  threescore  years  ago.  I 
can  not  remember  this  beautiful  Southern  home 
among  the  magnolias  and  the  sweet-scented  cape 
jasmines;  nor  do  I  remember  how  I  played  by 
the  clear,  sparkling  spring  beneath  the  shade  of 
the  wide-spreading  beach  trees. 

My  father  began  life  with  small  me^ns,  but  by 
patient  labor  and  strict  economy  he  soon  accum- 
ulated wealth.  By  a  kind  and  fatherly  care  of 
his  negroes,  they  increased  and  grew  until  it  be- 
came necessary  for  him  to  broaden  his  fields.  One 
summer  morning  when  I  was  a  small  boy  he  rode 
away  in  quest  of  a  new  home.  Crossing  the  Mis- 
sissippi Eiver  at  Natchez,  he  penetrated  the  un- 
broken forests  on  tlie  west  side  and  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land  on  the  banks  of  the  Tensas. 
Here  amidst  dense  cane  brakes  and  wild  woods, 
where  the  ring  of  the  ax  had  never  been  heard, 
he  made  a  new  home  which  he  named  Alphenia. 
To  tliis  place  he  soon  removed  his  family  and 
slaves,  and  ere  long  had  opened  up  and  improved 
a  fine  plantation.  My  memory  reverts  to  a  free 
and  happy  boyhood  which  sounds  now  to  my  chil- 
dren as  unreal  as  a  dream.  Pecans,  walnuts, 
grapes  and  muscadines  grew  everywhere  in  great 
profusion.  Fish  of  all  kinds,  from  the  red-sided 
perch  to  the  fifty-pound  cat,  abounded  in  tlie 
lakes  and  bayous.  Squirrels,  turkeys,  deer,  bear 
and  wildcat  roamed  the  woods  undisturbed.     The 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  9 

lakes  in  winter  were  literally  covered  with  ducks 
and  geese.     When  your  imagination  has  painted 
its  brightest  picture,  you  will  fail  to  fancy,  in  its 
full  measure,   the  happy,  joyous   life   of   a   free- 
hearted, free-handed,  healthy  boy  brought  up  amid 
such  surroundings.     By  the  liberality  of  my  father 
I  was  provided  with  boat  and  fishing  tackle,  gun 
and   pony.     About   twelve  little  negro   boys,   too 
small  to  go  to  the  fields,  were  my  constant  at- 
tendants and  playmates.     Together  we  rowed  the 
boat;  together  we  fished  and  went  swimming.    We 
had  rare   sport  hunting  squirrels   and   gathering 
nuts.     T  used  to  climb  the  trees  and  thrash  them 
down  and  the  little  darkies  would  pick  them  up. 
It  i§  amusing  to  remember  that  when  time  came 
to  'vide,  as  they  expressed  it,  we  would  sit  down 
under  the  trees  and  count  the  nuts.     It  never  oc- 
curred to  us  to  have  a  measure.     AVlien  we  were 
successful  at  hunting  or  fishing,  we  divided  when 
we  reached  home,  one-half  going  to  the  quarters. 
When  we  got  but  little  game  I  invited  my  dusky 
comrades  to  dine  with  me  at  the  '%ig  house.''     I 
had  the  good  fortune  to  be  the  pet  of  old  Aunt 
Mary,  the  cook,  and  it  was  easy  to  get  her  to  give 
me  large  pans  full  of  bread,  meat,  cakes  and  pies 
to  carry  out  to  the  "well-house"    for    my    little 
friends.     More  than  once,  without  anyone  being 
the  wiser,  the  old  colored  aunty  would  go  into 
the  dairy  near  by  and  hand  us  out  milk  by  the 
crock. 

I  loved  these  black  friends  and  they  loved  me ; 
yes,  they  would  have  died  for  me.     Is  it  any  won- 


10  Reminiscences  of  an 

der,  then,  that  kindly  feelings,  which  have  had 
so  much  to  interrupt  them,  still  exist  between  the 
old  master  and  his  former  slaves? 

So  much  has  been  said  and  written  by  unin- 
formed persons  about  the  unkind  and  even  brutal 
treatment  of  the  negroes,  that  it  may  be  of  inter- 
est to  tell  something  of  life  on  the  old  plantation. 
They,  of  course,  had  to  work,  and  many  of  them 
to  work  hard;  but  not  so  hard  as  many  white  la- 
borers at  the  North.  They  were  raised  to  work 
and  were  well  able  to  do  manual  labor.  They 
were  happy  at  their  work.  Think  you  that  if 
they  had  been  driven  like  galley  slaves,  the  coon 
songs,  some  of  which  we  find  in  print,  would  ever 
have  rung  out  on  the  morning  air  in  delightful 
melody  as  these  contented  servants  went  and  re- 
turned from  the  fields?  They  were  well  fed  on 
good,  wholesome  food.  It  was  the  master's  in- 
terest so  to  do.  I  remember  how  the  dinner  buck- 
ets, well  filled  with  bread  and  bacon,  hominy  and 
potatoes,  were  sent  out  to  the  fields  by  the  water 
cart.  Molasses,  milk  and  vegetables  were  freely 
furnished.  Their  suppers  and  Sunday  meals 
they  cooked  in  their  quarters.  Clothing  of  good 
quality  and  in  sufficient  quantity  was  furnished, 
but  on  many  plantations  they  seemed  not  to  be 
required  to  keep  themselves  clean.  On  my  fath- 
er's place  every  one  was  given  time  to  wash  on 
Saturday  evening,  and  they  were  required  to  come 
out  clean  and  tidy  on  Sunday  morning. 

Their  liouses  in  the  large  slave  belts  were  two- 
room   framed   cottages    with    gallery    and    brick 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  11 

chimney.  They  have  often  told  me  they  preferred 
the  old  log  cabins  with  mud  chimneys,  which  had 
been  torn  down  to  give  place  to  the  new  quarters. 
Most  of  them  had  what  they  called  "a  patch,"  on 
which  they  could  grow  what  they  pleased.  From 
these  patches  and  from  their  chickens  they  re- 
ceived small  cash  sums  for  extra  wants.  They 
were  well  cared  for  when  sick.  On  many  planta- 
tions the  physician  was  paid  an  annual  salary. 
Many,  many  times  have  I  been  called  up  in  the 
midnight  hours  to  carry  medicine  to  the  quarters. 

Preaching  was  had  for  them  very  frequently  on 
Sunday  evenings  by  the  Methodist  circuit  rider, 
old  Daddy  Billy  concluding  with  powerful  exhor- 
tations and  brimful  of  negro  eloquence.  Often 
as  I  played  in  the  quarter  streets  by  moonlight  I 
have  heard  this  old  darky  at  his  family  prayers 
ask  "that  God  would  bless  old  master  and  long 
spare  him  to  rule  over  his  ignorant  race  led  into 
bondage  for  a  wise  purpose  by  God's  own  hand." 
When  the  time  of  separation  came  during  the  war 
I  saw  old  Daddy  Billy,  his  eyes  streaming  with 
tears,  throw  his  arms  around  my  father's  neck. 

Uncle  Billy  had  a  pony  of  his  own  on  which  he 
used  to  ride  to  meetings  on  neighboring  planta- 
tions. ^\^ien  the  old  man  and  his  wife  had  been 
left  in  charge  of  the  house  and  property  by  my 
father  in  1863,  he  moved  up  to  the  house  with 
his  chickens,  pigs  and  pony.  He  had  been  told 
that  the  Yankees  would  not  molest  him;  but  this 
the  old  man  did  not  quite  believe.  He  kept  his 
pony  locked  up  in  the  smokehouse  and  had  a  close 


12  Reminiscences  of  an 

lookout  for  his  pigs  and  chickens.  When  the 
Yankees  came,  neither  the  old  man^s  color  nor 
profession  saved  him.  He  said  "them  poor  white 
trash,  dressed  in  blue,  come  here.  I  axed  ^em  in 
and  told  ^em  I  was  a  minister  of  the  gospel;  but 
law,  chile,  dat  never  done  a  bit  er  good.  They  stole 
Mary's  chickens  and  one  of  my  pigs,  and  wus  jes' 
getting  off  de  premises,  when,  fore  God !  old  Se- 
lim  whickered,  and  dem  blasted  rascals  broke 
down  de  do'  of  de  smokehouse  and  tuk  my  pony." 
Uncle  Billy  was  never  more  the  Yankee  soldier's 
friend. 

Sometimes  the  negroes  were  whipped,  but  sel- 
dom severely.  The  abuses  as  I  saw  them,  were 
largely  due  to  the  fact  that  many  owners  left 
their  slaves  too  much  in  the  hands  of  irresponsi- 
ble overseers.  Sometimes  they  ran  away  and  were 
tracked  up  by  the  common  hound  trained  for  this 
purpose.  It  was  well  known  that  they  barked 
tremendously  but  rarely  ever  attempted  to  bite. 

Jeff,  my  father's  blacksmith,  and  my  great 
friend,  for  I  had  learned  him  to  read  and  write, 
had  a  quarrel  with  Mr.  Cobb,  the  overseer,  and 
ran  away.  He  wrote  himself  a  pass  and  succeeded 
in  getting  a  long  way  from  home  before  he  was 
arrested.  I  was  sent  after  him.  He  was  deliv- 
ered to  me  by  the  sheriff  with  handcuffs  on.  He 
was  so  mortified  that  I  took  them  off  on  his  word 
to  me  that  he  would  go  back  with  me.  He  never 
attempted  escape,  although  he  had  many  oppor- 
tunities.    I  was  Jeff's  lawyer;  the  overseer,  the 


Ex- Confederate  Soldier.  13 

prosecuting  attorney  in  my  father's  court.     The 
verdict  was  Jeff  was  not  to  be  whipped. 

Much  of  the  material  for  the  use  of  abolition 
papers  and  speakers  was  furnished  by  young  men 
and  women  who  shared  our  elegant  hospitality 
and  enjoyed  large  salaries  as  clerks,  teachers,  etc. 
In  their  letters  North  they  played  the  hero  down 
in  darkest  Africa  and  misrepresented  the  South- 
ern people.  In  this  connection  I  intend  to  state 
two  facts :  One  is  that  these  young  people  always 
had  an  eye  opened  for  a  chance  to  marry  a  plan- 
tation, which  they  frequently  did.  Another  fact, 
which  can  be  well  substantiated,  is  that  when  these 
Northern  people  became  owners  of  slaves  they 
were  the  hardest,  most  exacting  masters  in  the 
South,  account  for  it  who  can.  I  do  so  in  this 
way, — they  erected  the  same  standard  for  the  nat- 
urally indolent  negro  which,  in  their  greed,  they 
demanded  of  poor  white  labor  at  home.  Many 
times  it  has  occurred  to  me  that  if  Harriet  Beecher 
Stowe  had  married  a  plantation  when  she  came 
South,  "Uncle  Tom's  Cabin"  would  never  have 
been  written;  and  perhaps  John  Brown  might 
never  have  come  down  to  Harper's  Ferry  to  die. 


14  Reminiscences  of  an 


CHAPTER  II. 


School  Days  Begun — Death  in  the  Home — Off  to 
College. 

For  a  year  or  more  I  had  attended  the  neighbor- 
hood school.  I  was  reluctant  to  give  up  my  sports, 
and  the  little  darkies  kept  telling  me  how  they 
missed  me,  and  this,  of  course,  made  it  harder  for 
me  to  go.  I  progressed,  however,  fairly  well, 
learning  to  read,  write  and  cipher,  and  had  not 
my  father  been  so  much  in  earnest  in  the  matter, 
I  would  have  been  quite  content  to  quit  school. 
Once  I  was  "kept  in,"  with  another  boy,  for  mis- 
chief. After  the  children  had  all  gone  home,  the 
teacher  called  my  friend  Ed  up  and  began  whip- 
ping him.  I  jumped  from  the  window  and  ran 
home.  Next  morning  I  had  a  nice  little  chas- 
tisement before  I  started  to  school,  and  a  big  one 
after  I  got  there.  My  father  was  determined  that 
I  should  have  a  thorough  education,  and  spared 
no  expense  to  further  his  purpose.  Arrangements 
were  made  for  me  to  attend  a  school  situated  on 
Choctaw  Bayou,  about  eighteen  miles  from  home. 

About  this  time  the  visitation  of  a  dark  Provi- 
dence overshadowed  Alphenia.  My  mother  and 
four  children  were  snatched  away  within  a  week 
by  the  cruel  hand  of  death.  Four  motherless 
children  and  a  brokon-liearted  father  were  left  in 


Ex- Confederate  Soldier.  15 

sorrow;  but  not  as  they  who  sorrow  without  hope. 
My  father's  house  was  a  house  of  prayer,  and  the 
itinerant  preacher's  home.  I  remember  how  my 
dying  mother's  face  was  lighted  by  a  blaze  of 
glory.  I  remember,  too,  how  sweetly  the  little 
girls  and  boys  met  the  dread  messenger,  and  how 
little  Anna,  at  seven  years  of  age,  exhorted  every- 
body to  give  their  hearts  to  Jesus;  how  she  sent 
for  Mr.  Harper,  her  Sunday  school  teacher,  to 
thank  him  for  showing  her  "the  more  excellent 
way,"  and  how  with  her  last  breath  she  said,  "Tell 
cousin  Lizzie  I  will  be  at  the  beautiful  gate  wait- 
ing and  watching  for  her." 

At  an  early  age  I  joined  the  M.  E.  Church 
South,  of  which  I  am  still  a  member.  Amid 
earth's  wildest  storms,  I  have  found  security  and 
peace  "in  leaning  on  the  Everlasting  Arms." 

Home  seemed  no  longer  home  to  me.  My 
father,  busied  about  his  plantation  affairs,  was  sel- 
dom at  the  house.  Lonely  and  desolate  indeed 
were  the  bereaved  children.  The  old  negro  mam- 
my was  our  main  comfort.  Well  do  I  recall  how 
patiently  and  lovingly  she  cared  for  "my  mistress' 
children."  When  I  fail  to  remember  my  most 
sacred  experiences,  then,  and  not  until  then,  will 
I  cease  to  cherish  the  memory  of  "the  old  black 
mammy." 

So  changed  were  conditions  that  I  had  few  re- 
grets when  the  time  came  to  start  off  to  school.  I 
boarded  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Suth.  Hays,  an  old 
friend  of  ours.  The  school  was  taught  by  Dr. 
James  Moore,  who  had  graduated   at   Centenary 


16  Eeminiscences  of  an 

College  with  my  half-brothers.  He  was  a  fine 
scholar  and  a  nice  gentleman.  He  was  teaching 
school  while  waiting  to  complete  his  medical  lec- 
tures. I  owe  much  to  Dr.  Moore,  who  shared  my 
father's  earnest  desire  that  I  succeed  at  school. 
He  seemed  to  be  supernaturally  impressed,  not- 
withstanding I  had  large  expectations,  that  the 
time  would  come — and  it  came — that  I  was  to 
earn  my  bread  by  teaching. 

Dear  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hays  had  a  son  of  my  own 
age.  Tom  and  I  had  glorious  sport  hunting  and 
fishing  on  Saturdays.  There  was  in  the  dense 
forests  near  by  an  Indian  encampment.  A  frag- 
ment of  the  Mississippi  Choctaws  lived  there.  It 
was  a  great  delight  to  friend  Tom  and  myself  to 
visit  the  camp.  The  men  hunted  and  dressed 
and  tanned  the  skins  of  wild  animals,  while  the 
women  did  the  entire  work  of  the  camp  and  made 
baskets  and  slippers  for  sale  to  the  whites.  The 
Indian  boys,  at  first  shy,  became  quite  friendly 
with  us  and  taught  us  to  make  bows,  and  feather 
and  point  the  arrows,  and  how  to  make  blowguns 
of  long  cane.  Within  a  few  years,  as  has  always 
been  the  case  with  poor  Lo,  these  Indians  were 
crowded  out  by  the  white  settlers.  Silently  and 
with  almost  noiseless  tread  they  broke  camp  one 
morning  and  left  for  the  territory.  When  they 
were  gone  there  was  found  in  the  bayou,  near  by, 
the  body  of  a  beautiful  Indian  maiden,  with  an 
arrow  in  her  breast.  It  was  said  that  she  loved  a 
white  man. 

My  next  school  was  the  "Collegiate  Institute," 


THE   AUTHOR— 1904. 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  17 

in  the  beautiful  little  capital  city  of  Louisiana. 
Baton  Rouge  is  situated  on  the  Mississippi  River, 
ninety  miles  above  New  Orleans. 

W.  H.  N.  Magruder,  known  far  and  wide  for 
his  ripe  scholarship,  noble  qualities,  and  long  ex- 
perience as  an  educator,  was  principal  of  the  Insti- 
tute. His  curriculum  was  thorough,  his  discipline 
strict,  and  his  corps  of  teachers  highly  qualified  for 
their  work.  Dull  indeed  was  the  boy  who  did  not 
make  rapid  improvement.  Life  in  a  large  board- 
ing school  was,  for  a  time  quite  confining  and  irk- 
some to  a  boy  who  had  always  been  "as  free  as  a 
bird."  We  had,  however,  no  few  privileges  and 
pleasures.  Fine  grounds  were  provided  for  our 
ball  and  other  games.  A  trip  to  the  sugar  cane 
fields  in  the  afternoon  was  a  special  pleasure. 

I  must  mention  that  there  were  two  plantations 
within  our  reach.  Dr.  Perkins,  owner  of  one  of 
them,  said :  "Boys,  I  have  planted  expressly  for 
you  several  acres  in  the  corner;  donH  go  further 
in  the  cane,  if  you  please."  The  other  owner 
said  :  "If  I  catch  you  in  my  field  I  will  prose- 
cute you  to  the  full  extent  of  the  law."  I  need 
not  say  that  where  we  ate  one  acre  of  cane  for  Dr. 
Perkins,  we  ate  three  acres  or  more  for  the  other 
man. 

The  principal  often  took  us  to  the  capitol  to 
see  the  Governor  and  other  officials;  and  to  the 
senate  and  representative  halls  when  great  ques- 
tions were  being  discussed.  We  were  allowed  to 
visit  the  city  a  few  hours  on  Saturdays,  and  our 
Reminiscences — 2. 


18  Eeminiscences  of  an 

path  always  lay  by  way  of  Mrs.  Reid^s  Female 
Seminary.  The  inner  leaves  of  the  magnolia 
flower,  pitched  over  the  plank  wall  as  we  passed, 
conveyed  the  little  love  messages  to  the  girls. 

During  Christmas  week  the  boys  were  allowed 
a  trip  to  ISTew  Orleans,  and  more  than  once  we 
enjoyed  "a  midnight  race  on  the  Mississippi.^' 

A  catastrophe  occurred  on  the  river  which  to 
this  day  is  talked  about  by  the  oldest  inhabitant. 
It  was  the  burning  of  the  "Princess.^'  A  large 
number  of  students  and  others  were  on  the  wharf 
one  Sunday  morning  when  this  floating  palace 
from  Vicksburg  touched  the  landing  and  steamed 
away — a  thing  of  beauty — toward  New  Orleans. 
When  but  a  few  miles  down  the  river  and  in  full 
view  of  the  city,  the  boilers  exploded  and  the 
flames  immediately  enveloped  the  boat.  The  ferry 
boat  rushed  to  the  rescue,  but  too  late  to  save 
hundreds  who  perished  in  the  flames  and  in  the 
waters.  Alas!  it  was  said  that  some  of  the  offi- 
cers were  drunk,  and  had  sworn  to  reach  'New 
Orleans  at  all  hazards  by  a  certain  hour. 

To  my  memory  comes  trooping  the  names  and 
faces  of  many  of  my  schoolmates.  Where  are  the 
Clintons,  Bradfords,  Hoovers,  Garrisons,  Babins, 
Lozennes,  and  Blanchards?  Doubtless  nearly  all 
gone.  Many  of  them  went  to  Virginia  in  1861, 
and  sleep  upon  the  battlefields. 

After  a  stay  of  four  years  at  this  institution  I 
was  sent  to  the  "Southern  University,^'  at  Greens- 
boro, Alabama.  This  institution  was  built  by  the 
Methodist  Church.     Its  president  was  Dr.  Wight- 


EX-CONFEDEEATE  SOLDIER.  19 

man,  afterwards  a  distinguished  bishop  of  South 
Carolina.  The  faculty  was  composed  of  the  schol- 
arly Wills,  Wadsworth,  Casey  and  Lupton.  My 
stay  here  was  greatly  profitable  but  very  short. 
The  clouds  were  gathering  in  the  political  horizon, 
and  the  mutterings  of  the  thunders  were  begin- 
ning to  be  heard.  Over  the  protest  of  the  beloved 
president  the  boys  soon  scattered  north,  south, 
east  and  west  to  their  homes. 


20  Reminiscences  of  an 


CHAPTER  III 


Civil  War. 

The  presidential  election  was  near  at  hand. 
John  Bell  of  Tennessee  was  the  candidate  of  the 
old  Whig  party.  The  Democrats  had  failed  to 
agree  upon  a  candidate.  Jefferson  Davis  and 
other  statesmen  saw  the  danger  and  tried  in  vain 
to  avert  it.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  the  candi- 
date of  one  wing  and  John  C.  Breckinridge  of 
the  other.  ''^Whom  the  gods  would  destroy,  they 
first  make  mad."  The  Eepublicans  and  aboli- 
tionists united  upon  Abraham  Lincoln.  Politics 
was  at  fever  heat.  The  war  of  words  went  on 
until  November  came.  Mr.  Lincoln,  with  about  a 
third  of  the  popular  vote,  received  an  electoral 
vote  sufficient  to  elect  him  President  of  the  United 
States.  "What  now  is  to  be  done?"  was  the 
question  on  every  lip.  With  practically  a  unani- 
mous voice  the  people  said,  "We  will  not  submit 
to  the  rule  of  a  sectional  President,  hostile  to  the 
interests  of  the  South."  Certainly  New  England 
saw  and  seized  her  opportunity.  That  section, 
jealous  of  political  power,  had  quarreled  over  the 
admission  of  Louisiana  and  Texas,  and  had  al- 
most made  "war  over  questions  growing  out  of 
the  admission  of  Kansas.  That  section,  ever  man- 
ifesting the  disposition  to  rule  or  ruin,  had  now 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  21 

elected  the  President.  Certainly  he  was  a  sec- 
tional President,  for  in  many  of  the  States  he  had 
not  received  a  single  vote. 

Prudent  leaders  in  the  South  counseled  that 
this  grave  situation  be  approached  deliberately 
and  cautiously,  but  patriotically.  AVhile  the  peo- 
ple were  pondering  well  the  question  of  co-opera- 
tive action  by  the  Southern  States,  South  Caro- 
lina, the  gallant  little  Palmetto  State,  seceded. 
She  withdrew  from  the  Union  of  States  all  grants 
and  concessions  made  to  them  and  proceeded  to 
resume  the  full  exercise  of  that  independent  sov- 
ereignty which  she  had  conquered  by  her  sword 
from  Great  Britain  and  which  had  been  recognized 
by  King  George.  The  spirit  of  secessipn  became 
contagious,  and  swept  aside  all  opposition  as 
straws  before  the  wind.  Some  great  men  like 
Sam  Houston  thought  it  to  be  unwise. 

The  next  to  fall  in  line  with  South  Carolina 
was  Alabama,  the  home  of  the  gifted  Yancey.  In 
quick  succession  came  Mississippi,  Florida,  Texas, 
North  Carolina  and  Georgia.  These  States  im- 
mediately elected  delegates  to  meet  at  Montgom- 
ery to  organize  a  provisional  government,  of  which 
Jefferson  Davis  of  Mississippi  was  chosen  Presi- 
dent, and  Alexander  H.  Stephens  of  Georgia  Vice 
President.  Almost  immediately  Messrs.  Eoman 
of  Louisiana,  Forsyth  of  Alabama,  and  Crawford 
of  Georgia,  were  appointed  commissioners  to  go 
to  Washington  "in  the  name  of  the  Confederate 
States  to  meet  and  confer  with  any  person  or  per- 
sons duly  authorized  by  the  government  of  the 


22  Eeminiscences  of  an 

United  States,  being  furnished  with  like  power 
and  authority,  and  with  them  to  agree,  treat,  con- 
sult and  negotiate  concerning  all  matters  in  which 
the  parties  are  both  interested." 

Mr.  Davis  says  "that  frankness  and  good  faith 
characterized  the  actions  of  the  Southern  com- 
missioners; that  they  were  kept  waiting  by  fair 
promises  to  the  ear  while  military  preparations 
were  pushed  forward  for  the  unconstitutional  and 
criminal  purpose  of  coercing  the  South." 

After  a  long  delay  at  Washington  our  commis- 
sioners became  convinced  that  Mr.  Seward  was 
deceiving  them,  and  they  returned  to  Montgom- 
ery. All  hopes  of  reconciliation  were  gone.  Very 
soon  the  United  States  government  wrongfully 
sought  to  reinforce  Fort  Sumter.  Mr.  Douglass 
said:  "Who  owns  Charleston  should  own  Fort 
Sumter."  Major  Anderson  was  in  favor  of  re- 
tiring from  the  fort.  He  said  to  attempt  to  re- 
inforce it  would  provoke  hostilities.  Certainly 
this  -was  Mr.  Seward^s  game  to  make  Beauregard 
fire  upon  the  flag.  The  ships  were  in  the  offing 
with  more  troops  and  provisions.  Fort  Sumter 
was  attacked  and  surrendered.  The  booming  of 
cannon  at  Charleston  sounded  around  the  world. 
Mr.  Lincoln,  but  little  appreciating  the  magnitude 
of  the  task  of  subjugating  a  free  people,  called  for 
seventy-five  thousand  troops  for  ninety  days.  Mr. 
Buchanan,  in  his  last  message,  said,  "The  sword 
was  not  placed  in  the  hands  of  Congress  to  pre- 
serve the  Union  by  force."     This  same  Congress 


Ex-Confederate  Soldiee.  23 

was  authorizing  the  President  to  begin  the  bloody 
work  of  coercion. 

All  over  the  South  the  call  to  arms  was  made. 
The  drum-beat  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Eio 
Grande  was  like  to  the  mighty  roar  of  the  angry 
heavens,  and  the  shrill  notes  of  fife  and  bugle  were 
as  keen  and  electrical  as  the  lightning^s  flash.  We 
were  awakened  to  the  reality  that  civil  war  was 
upon  us.  Camp  fires  were  lighted  all  over  the 
South.  The  men  were  drilling  and  the  women 
were  praying  and  making  battleflags.  Virginia, 
Arkansas  and  Tennessee  lingered  in  the  Union 
until  they  saw  that  there  was  no  hope  of  peaceable 
settlement — that  war  had  actually  come;  then 
they  withdrew  and  proudly  took  their  places  in 
line  with  their  Southern  sisters. 

It  is  very  far  from  my  purpose  in  these  Eemin- 
iscences  to  erect  a  platform  on  which  my.  own 
military  deeds  may  be  exploited.  The  leading 
characteristic  of  the  Confederate  soldier  was  his 
individuality.  Each  man  was  a  unit  of  the  whole, 
and  each  stood  in  his  place  determined  that  the 
invader  could  not  "pass  his  stand"  save  over  his 
dead  body.  I  stood,  too,  in  my  place  as  one  unit. 
It  will  be  my  purpose  to  tell  what  Confederates 
did,  and  to  emphasize  to  the  world  the  sublime 
patriotism  of  the  private  soldiers  whose  heroic 
deeds  could  not  be  given  in  the  report  of  the  bat- 
tle, nor  their  names  appear  among  the  killed  and 
wounded.  He  did  not  go  much  on  discipline, 
especially  in  the  front  line,  where  each  man 
wanted  to  conduct  the  fight  as  if  the  result  de- 


24  Reminiscences  of  an 

pended  on  him.  He  did  not  fear  his  officers,  but 
respected  and  loved  them  in  proportion  as  they 
were  brave  and  rushed  to  the  front  when  the  bat- 
tle raged. 

My  own  military  record  will  be  briefly  stated: 
I  was  a  private  soldier  in  Company  A,  Wirt 
Adams'  regiment  of  Mississippi  cavalry,  in  the 
army  of  Tennessee.  I  was  with  my  command  on 
the  retreat  from  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  to  Cor- 
inth, under  Albert  Sydney  Johnston;  was  with 
them  in  all  the  cavalry  engagements  about  luka; 
was  with  them  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh;  was  with 
Forrest  in  his  daring  attack  on  Sherman's  division 
on  the  retreat  from  Shiloh;  rode  with  my  com- 
mand down  Britain's  lane,  in  Tennessee.  Here 
I  fell  beneath  my  horse,  almost  in  touch  of  the 
heroic  Montgomery,  Briscoe,  Swayse  and  others 
lying  dead  at  the  cannon's  mouth.  I  was  made 
a  prisoner,  and  after  my  exchange,  was  transferred 
to  Cameron's  battery.  Was  with  the  battery,  in 
all  its  fights,  until  promoted  to  a  lieutenantcy  in 
McNeil's  cavalry.  I  was  disabled  by  a  fall  of  my 
horse,  which  resulted  in  entire  disuse  of  my  right 
leg,  forcing  me  to  leave  the  army  in  the  summer 
of  1864.  I  know,  comrades,  all  about  the  weary 
ride,  the  scant  rations,  and  the  lonely  picket  post. 
I  am  acquainted  with  the  ping  of  the  minnie  ball, 
the  shriek  of  the  shell,  and  the  boom  of  the 
cannon. 

I  want  now  to  write  of  the  gallant  spirits  that 
composed  that  Louisiana  company  in  a  Mississippi 
regiment. 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  25 

Isaac  F.  Harrison  was  captain — a  fearless  man, 
a  born  soldier.  He  was  not  a  tactician;  said  he 
brought  his  men  out  to  fight  and  not  to  drill.  He 
didn^t  believe  in  breastworks,  and  almost  got  an- 
gry when  called  on  for  a  detail  to  work  on  them. 
He  wanted  nothing  to  fight  behind;  he  fought  in 
the  open,  and  when  he  puffed  rapidly  at  his  short 
stem  pipe  we  knew  there  was  danger  ahead.  He 
was  promoted  to  major,  colonel,  and  when  the  war 
ended  was  commanding  his  brigade.  It  was  my 
privilege  and  pleasure  to  visit  him  at  El  Paso 
just  before  his  death. 

Albert  Bondurant  was  first  lieutenant,  and  be- 
came captain  when  Harrison  was  promoted. 

McCall  became  captain  after  Bondurant's  res- 
ignation on  account  of  ill  health. 

Will  Buckner  and  Will  Young  in  turn  were 
made  captain  as  the  war  progressed.  As  I  write, 
I  recall  to  mind  John  Eegister,  Henry  Hoover, 
Sim  Anderson,  Caleb  Snyder,  Ed  Harper,  C.  C. 
Cordill, — gallant  soldiers,  who  never  shunned  a 
duty  and  always  faced  danger  with  a  smile. 

There  was  in  our  command  a  lone,  friendless 
Dutch  boy,  just  over  from  Europe,  working  for  a 
butcher,  who  deserves  more  than  favorable  men- 
tion. When  the  sad  hour  of  leave-taking  came, 
no  mother  with  arms  about  his  neck  pronounced 
her  "God  bless  you"  to  Dutch  Joe;  no  sister  wept 
tears  at  bidding  him  good-bye;  no  sweetheart 
pinned  a  flower  on  his  coat  or  slipped  her  ring  on 
his  finger.  In  a  strange  land,  among  strangers, 
he  volunteered  to  fight  for  his  new  home.     So 


26  Reminiscences  of  an 

active,  brave  and  sagacious  was  he  that  soon  his 
officers  found  him  to  be  invaluable  as  a  lone  scout 
to  report  the  whereabouts  of  the  enemy.  Ere 
long  Joe  was  not  required  to  report  regularly  to 
his  captain,  but  was  in  command  of  a  company  of 
one,  to  ride  where  he  pleased.  In  this  capacity  he 
often  rescued  women  and  children  from  perilous 
situations  against  odds  which  would  have  daunted 
the  fearless  Dick  Turpin  on  the  highway.  Blessed 
with  an  iron  constitution,  he  was  insensible  to 
fatigue,  and  fear  was  absolutely  a  stranger  to  his 
breast. 

The  marine  cavalry  never  landed  when  they 
learned  from  the  negroes  that  Joe  Kruse  was 
around.  His  name  was  a  terror  to  the  enemy  and 
a  safeguard  to  unprotected  women.  He  was  a 
"dead  shot'^  and  always  went  heavily  armed.  Joe 
was  seldom  taken  by  surprise,  but  one  day  while 
he  was  eating  his  dinner  the  house  was  surrounded 
by  fifty  United  States  cavalry.  The  gallant  fel- 
low never  thought  of  surrender,  but  walked  to  the 
front  gate  with  a  pistol  in  each  hand,  firing  un- 
erringly as  he  came.  He  jumped  on  his  horse, 
cut  his  bridle  reins,  and  with  spurs  deep  set  in  the 
sides  of  his  noble  beast,  broke  through  the  ranks 
of  the  enemy,  and,  although  riddled  with  bullets, 
made  his  escape.  He  lived  to  the  end  of  the  war, 
and  was  no  longer  known  as  Dutch  Joe,  but  as 
Captain  Joe  Kruse,  the  hero. 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  27 


CHAPTER  IV. 


The  Confederate  Soldier. 

Comrades,  your  quick  step  is  slower  now;  your 
once  flashing  eyes  are  growing  dim,  and  your 
brown  locks  are  all  sprinkled  with  gray.  Many  of 
us  are  lame,  and  halt,  and  blind,  and  take  comfort 
in  the  thought  that  yonder  is  a  line  that  but  few 
of  us  wiU  ever  pass.  It^s  the  outer  picket  post  of 
life's  parade  grounds.  It's  time's  camp  limit. 
It's  the  seventieth  mile-board  on  the  road  to — 
where?  Shall  I  answer?  Yes;  it's  the  grave. 
Soldiers  are  not  afraid  to  die.  We  can  make  no 
more  forced  marches,  so  let's  break  ranks  and  bi- 
vouac under  the  shade  of  the  trees,  and  tell  our 
sons  and  daughters  the  dangers  we  have  known 
and  the  deeds  of  valor  we  have  done.  Let  us 
heed  the  fact  that  we  have  passed  the  summit  of 
life  and  are  going  down  the  other  side.  Our  feet 
are  nearing  the  icy  stream  which  crosses  our 
path  in  the  western  foothills.  The  mind's  eye 
looks  no  longer  forward.  It  no  longer  seeks  to 
peer  through  the  mists  ahead,  but  backward  on 
memory's  wings  we  turn,  and  happy  are  we  if  the 
swift-passing  panorama  be  that  of  a  life  spent  in 
obedience  to  the  command  of  Him  who  said,  Love 
God  and  your  fellows;  but  miserable  indeed,  and 
haunted  by  ghosts  that  will  not  down,  if  the  recol- 


2S  Reminiscences  of  an 

lections  be  of  life  missj^ent.  It  is  the  memory  of 
a  people  that  I  seek  to  call  up.  Were  it  mine  the 
power  to  invoke  the  Muse,  Vd  touch  with  tender, 
loving  fingers  that  mystic  harp  whose  strings, 
fastened  to  the  hearts  of  the  living,  extend  into 
the  graves  of  our  dead.  Father  Ryan,  the  South- 
ern poet  of  blessed  memory,  said:  "A  nation 
without  ruins  is  a  nation  without  memories;  and 
a  nation  without  memories  is  a  nation  without  a 
history.*^ 

This  Sunny  Southland  of  ours  has  had  her 
ruins  widespread  and  sweeping.  Here  and  there 
and  everywhere  were  the  tracks  of  an  indescrib- 
able desolation  in  the  wake  of  invading  armies, 
and  all  around  were  the  footprints  of  f oemen  who 
crushed  out  the  violets  and  roses  as  they  came 
trampling  upon  the  rights  of  a  brave  people.  She 
has  a  history  with  perhaps  here  and  there  a  blur 
that  marks  the  record  of  mortals  everywhere;  but 
with  many  a  page  that  beams  with  glory^s  light. 
She  has,  too,  her  sacred  memories  imperishably 
enshrined  in  the  minds  and  hearts  of  her  sons 
and  daughters. 

Let  us  call  up  the  memory  of  soldiers  of  the 
South, — not  the  heroes  ef  the  Texas  revolution, 
who  fought  with  Houston  and  died  with  Davy 
Crockett.  The  picture  which  I  shall  hang  in  j^our 
mind's  gallery  will  not  be  that  of  the  world-fa- 
mous Alamo,  where  a  little  band  of  patriots  beat 
back  the  swarming  hosts  of  the  Mexican  tyrant 
until  the  last  right  arm  lay  still  in  death;  and 
none — no,  not  one — left,  save  the  God  of  Battles, 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  29 

to  take  down  from  the  battered  battlements  the 
"flag  of  a  single  star"  and  wrap  its  tattered  folds 
as  a  winding  sheet  about  the  mutilated  forms  and 
sacred  ashes  of  Southern  soldiers  who  died  for 
Texas.  Neither  will  I  picture  the  Southern  sol- 
dier who  followed  Quitman,  Davis  and  Taylor  as 
they  marched  to  Mexico's  capital,  and  in  triumph 
hung  the  Stars  and  Stripes  over  the  Halls  of  the 
Montezumas. 

In  order  that  our  sons  and  daughters  may  know 
and  love  the  traditions  of  their  native  land  and 
learn  to  emulate  the  exalted  patriotism  of  their 
fathers,  who  followed  the  flag  of  the  South,  and 
to  imitate  the  grand  virtues  of  their  mothers,  who 
inspired  them  to  heroic  action,  my  theme  then 
will  be  the  Southern  soldier  of  the  '60s.  It  was  a 
grand  generation  of  a  grand  race.  They  contrib- 
uted to  the  world's  history  a  page  which  fairly 
scintillates  wifh  the  record  of  heroic  deeds. 

On  the  very  top  line  of  the  page  we  find  a 
question  which  has  been  carelessly  and  curiously 
asked  by  many,  but  honestly  and  anxiously  by 
every  grief -stricken  mother  whose  boy  fell  in  the 
fight.  The  great  question  is :  Which  section  was 
responsible  for  that  war  ? 

In  attempting  the  answer  which  I  must  make  in 
vindication  of  the  South,  whose  cause,  though 
lost,  is  ever  dear,  I  do  not  desire  to  stir  the  em- 
bers of  a  settled  strife  or  create  anew  a  single 
pang  of  bitterness.  I  would  not  uproot  a  single 
blade  of  grass  which  carpets  the  fields  of  blood 
where  brave  men  contended,  nor  bruise  tlie  petal 


30  Eeminiscences  of  an 

of  the  tiniest  flower  that  grows  over  brave  men's 
graves.  It  has  been  said  that  revolutions  settle 
the  questions  which  produced  them;  but  what's 
writ  in  our  memories  is  writ.  Ineffaceably  traced 
upon  the  tablet  of  the  Southern  heart  may  be  read 
the  answer:     The  North  provoked  that  strife. 

Was  not  the  right  of  property  in  slaves  recog- 
nized by  the  Constitution?  Were  not  Washing- 
ton, Jefferson,  Madison,  Monroe,  Jackson,  Polk 
and  Taylor,  all  of  whom  had  been  chosen  to  the 
highest  office  in  the  land,  .slaveowners  ?  Was  not 
slavery  in  existence  in  all  of  the  thirteen  States 
but  one  when  the  Constitution  was  framed  ? 

Was  not  the  North  responsible  for  the  act  of  the 
Puritan  fathers  in  establishing  it?  Did  not  the 
slave  ships  belong  to  New  England?  Was  not 
the  slave  trade  continued  for  twenty  years  over 
the  protest  of  the  Southern  States?  Did  not 
Georgia  lead  the  fight  for  its  abolishment?  Did 
not  the  North,  under  gradual  emancipation  acts, 
manage  to  sell  most  of  their  slaves  to  the  South 
when  the  institution  failed  to  pay  in  that  climate? 
Did  they  not  deny  to  slaveowners  the  right  to 
carry  their  property  into  the  Territories — the 
common  property  of  all  the  States  ?  Did  they  not 
practically  nullify  the  law  of  Congress  known  as 
the  Fugitive  Slave  Act?  Were  not  the  emissa- 
ries of  abolitionism  guilty  of  the  same  crime  with 
which  they  charged  the  king,  "that  of  inciting 
slaves  to  insurrection?"  Did  they  not  organize 
an  anti-slavery  party  which  denounced  the  Con- 
stitution as  a  "covenant  with   death  and  hell?" 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  31 

Did  they  not  proclaim  the  doctrine  of  "a  higher 
law/'  and  counsel  proscription  towards  all  pro- 
slavery  persons  of  every  trade  and  profession? 
Did  not  this  spirit  take  possession  of  the  church 
and  demand  the  displacement  of  Bishop  Andrews  ? 
Did  they  not  rend  in  twain  great  Methodism? 
Did  they  not  elect  a  sectional  President? 

Surely  the  North  could  not  plead  "not  guilty." 
But  they  say  secession  caused  the  war,  and  deny 
that  we  had  that  right.  For  the  benefit  of  our 
children,  lest  they  be  led  into  error  at  this  point, 
let  us  see. 

Was  there  ever  an  act  of  Congress  or  an  opinion 
from  the  Supreme  Court  denying  the  right  ?  Did 
not  Massachusetts  assert  the  right,  and  did  not 
several  of  the  New  England  States  threaten,  with 
her,  to  exercise  it?  Was  the  right  to  withdraw 
not  virtually  recognized  in  the  declaration  of  the 
fathers  "that  government  rests  on  the  consent  of 
the  governed?"  Was  it  not,  in  fact,  practiced  by 
the  colonies  themselves  when  tl)ey  withdrew  them- 
selves from  the  government  of  England  and  for 
less  cause?  Did  not  the  treaty  with  England's 
king  recognize  each  of  the  colonies  by  name  as 
sovereigns?  Was  not  the  Union  voluntarily 
formed  by  these  sovereign  States,  and  did  they 
not  reserve  certain  inalienable  rights  to  the  peo- 
ple ?  Did  not  North  Carolina  refuse  to  enter  the 
Union  until  protected  by  constitutional  amend- 
ment? Did  not  Virginia  stipulate  in  words  her 
right  to  withdraw  from  that  Union  of  States? 
Did  not  Texas,  the  Lone  Star  queen,  win  her  sov- 


32  Reminiscences  of  an 

ereignty  by  her  sword  and  bring  it  with  her  in 
her  voluntary  union  with  her  sister  States?  By 
what  law  but  might  was  she  prohibited  from  again 
flinging  to  the  breezes  the  flag  of  a  single  star? 

Horace  Greely  said :  "If  three  millions  of 
people  had  the  right  of  secession  in  1776,  how 
are  we  going  to  deny  the  same  right  to  seven 
millions  in  1861  ?'^  Again  he  said  :  "If  they  had 
but  a  doubtful  right  to  secede,  we  of  the  North 
have  less  right  to  coerce  them/' 

Grant ^said  there  was  no  warrant  for  coercion  in 
the  Constitution.  Some  have  sought  to  justify 
coercion,  but  Thad  Stevens  said :  "None  Imow 
better  than  we  that  we  are  traveling  outside  the 
Constitution." 

It  has  been  claimed  that  Jackson  practiced  it 
toward  South  Carolina.  Not  so;  they  do  violence 
to  the  memory  of  a  Southern  statesman  and  sol- 
dier when  they  fail  to  draw  a  distinction  between 
sending  armed  troops  to  enforce  a  statute,  which 
a  State  in  the  Union  refused  to  obey,  and  sending 
an  army  to  subdue  a  State  which  by  solemn  act  of 
her  sovereign  people  had  severed  her  connection 
with  that  Union. 

Surely  the  responsibility  for  both  secession  and 
war  rests  upon  the  North.  She  violated  the  terms 
of  the  compact'  and  drove  the  South  to  take  the 
step.  And  she  took  it  not  because  she  loved  the 
Union  less,  but  because  she  loved  constitutional 
liberty  'more.  History's  pages  teem  with  proof 
that  the  South  revered  the  Constitution,  which  she 


Ex- Confederate  Soldier.  33 

helped  to  write;  and  loved  the  Union,  which  she 
helped  to  form. 

Turn  to  Virginia,  the  grandest  of  all  the  States, 
and  see  her  people  in  convention  assembled  delib- 
erating long  and  well  upon  the  question  of  seces- 
sion. Seven  of  her  sisters  whom  she  loved  and  to 
whom  she  was  bound  by  the  ties  of  sympathy  and 
blood  had  left  the  Union,  but  still  she  hesitated. 
Senator  Daniel  says  it  was  because  of  her  memory 
of  her  Jefferson,  whose  pen  had  written  the  Dec- 
laration of  Independence;,  of  her  Patrick  Henry, 
whose  voice  first  rung  out  the  cry,  '^Liberty  or 
death ;"  of  her  Washington,  whose  sword  had  won 
our  liberties.  In  vain  she  sent  her  ablest  sons  to 
peace  conferences,  and  begged  the  authorities  at 
Washington  to  "come,  let  us  reason  together." 

When  called  upon  for  her  quota  of  troops  to 
fight  against  the  South  she  proudly  replied,  "Not 
a  man  will  be  furnished,"  and  passed  the  ordi- 
nance of  secession,  which  was  ratified  by  a  four- 
fifths  vote  at  the  ballot-box.  She  cast  the  die. 
She  crossed  the  Rubicon,  and  deliberately  bared 
her  breast  to  the  storm  which,  in  its  fury,  was  to 
desolate  her  homes,  bathe  her  hills  and  valleys  in 
blood,  and  rend  in  twain  her  sacred  territory. 

Was  State  sovereignty  the  doctrine  of  the  fa- 
thers ?  It  most  certainly  was.  Was  secession  the 
right  of  a  sovereign  State?  The  South  believed 
that  it  was.  Was  it  wise  to  exercise  it?  As  a 
self-respecting  people  no  choice  was  left  us.  But 
in  the  light  of  subsequent  events,  was  it  best? 

Reminiscences — 3. 


34  Reminiscences  of  an 

Mindful  of  all  the  cost  in  treasure  and  blood,  and 
remembering  the  sacrifices,  heart-aches  and  tears, 
we  answer,  so  far  as  the  finite  mind  can  read  the 
mind  of  the  God  who  rules  and  shapes  the  desti- 
nies of  nations,  we  believe  it  was.  Omniscience, 
who  saw  the  end  from  the  beginning,  saw  great 
issues  settled;  saw  sectionalism  destroyed;  saw 
slavery,  the  bone  of  contention,  removed ;  saw  a 
Union,  let  us  hope,  made  firmer  because  cemented 
by  the  blood  of  brothers  in  gray  and  blue.  The 
taunts  of  the  North  that  the  South  was  just  bluff- 
ing and  would  not  fight,  and  the  retort  that  one 
Southern  man  could  whip  five  Yankees,  was 
hushed,  to  be  heard  no  more  in  the  land  forever. 

The  cannon^s  roar  had  jarred  open  the  door  of 
the  temple  of  war.  The  long  pent  up  volcano, 
throbbing  like  a  thing  of  life  in  the  mountain's 
breast,  belched  forth  its  molten  lava  of  death  at 
our  feet.  The  gathered  fury  of  the  storm,  from 
skies  thick  with  blackness,  burst  upon  us.  But 
the  lightning's  flas?i  revealed  no  blanched  faces. 
We  were  not  afraid.  Confederate  soldiers,  feeling 
that  their  cause  was  just,  were  not  affrighted  at 
the  great  disparity  of  numbers.  Without  a  navy, 
without  munitions  of  war,  and  shut  out  from  all 
the  world  by  blockade,  they  were  undismayed. 
They  took  the  field,  accepted  the  gauge  of  battle, 
to  fight  for  freedom  and  die  for  principle.  They 
were  worthy  sons  of  grand  old  fathers,  who  were 
inspired  by  the  spirit  of  liberty  which,  spurned  in 
Greece  and  Eome,  trodden  Ijeneath  the  tyrant's 
heel  in  France  and  England,  had  to  cross  the  seas 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  35 

to  find  a  home.  Guided  by  a  new  star,  which  had 
arisen  to  lead  men  out  of  political  chains  into  hu- 
man liberty,  and  lighted  by  a  new  light  which  was 
but  a  reflection  of  the  great  light  which  struck 
down  Saul  on  the  road  to  Damascus,  they  came  to 
these  Western  sliores  to  establish  a  government 
which  must  rest  upon  the  consent  of  the  governed. 

Charlemagne  caught  tlie  vision  of  a  man  raised, 
not  by  birth  or  title,  but  by  education,  to  be  free, 
free  in  his  mind.  Luther  caught  a  nobler  vision; 
it  was  that  of  a  man  raised  to  be  free  in  his  mind 
and  free  in  his  conscience.  Americans  unfurled  a 
new  flag  to  the  breezes  of  heaven.  It  was  free- 
dom's flag  on  which  glittered  a  star  lit  by  the  light 
of  Christianity;  that  same  Christianity  which 
blazed  across  the  Judean  hills  at  Bethlehem; 
which  had  been  for  three  days  obscured  by  that 
awful  tragedy  on  Golgotha's  hill,  only  to  be 
kindled  afresh  at  Joseph's  bursting  tomb. 

The  white  population  of  the  South  was  but 
seven  millions;  that  of  the  North  more  than 
twenty  millions.  The  secretary  of  the  Southern 
Historical  Society  gives  six  hundred  thousand  as 
the  total  of  enlistments  in  the  Confederate  armies. 
These  figures  were  verified  by  x4djutant-Genera.l 
Cooper.  Official  estimates  of  enlistments  in 
Union  armies,  more  than  two  and  a  half  millions. 

It  was  in  the  face  of  such  tremendous  odds  that 
the  South  called  her  sons  to  fight — not  for  slav- 
ery— ah,  no,  young  reader,  be  not  misled  ;  it  was  to 
fight  the  same  fight  our  fathers  fought — the  right 
to  live  under  a  flag  of  their  own  choosing — the 


36  Eeminiscences  of  an 

right  to  defend  their  homes  from  the  spoiler.  Let 
history  answer  how  the}^  responded  to  the  call. 
From  shop  and  counter,  from  office  and  field  they 
came.  From  far  off  California  Johnston  came  to 
offer  his  sword  to  Texas.  Lee  from  his  high  place 
in  the  regular  army  tendered  his  sword  to  Vir- 
ginia. When  our  young  men  and  boys  had  donned 
the  gray  and  received  the  "Stars  and  Bars"  from 
their  mothers'  hands,  there  stood  Hill,  Johnston, 
Beauregard,  Gordon,  Bragg,  Forrest,  Price,  Mc- 
Culloch,  Hampton,  Breckinridge,  Polk  and 
Thomas  J.  Jackson  to  lead  our  hosts  to  victory  or 
to  death. 

Just  here  I  want  to  speak  of  the  loyal  affection 
of  the  millions  of  slaves  to  whom  were  intrusted 
our  women  and  children.  In  many  sections  they 
outnumbered  the  whites  ten  to  one.  Did  they  rise 
with  fire  and  sword  for  rapine  and  pillage,  as 
would  have  been  but  natural  if  slavery  had  been 
but  half  as  bad  as  Northern  writers  depicted  it? 
No !  they  made  by  patient  toil  the  supplies  for  our 
armies;  and,  with  fidelity  to  a  great  trust,  they 
sacredly  guarded  our  homes. 

I  recall  old  Clabe,  faithful  as  a  watchdog,  sleep- 
ing just  outside  old  mistress'  door.  When  Jeffer- 
son Davis  died  a  telegram  came  from  North  Caro- 
lina from  James  Jones,  his  former  servant  and 
slave,  which  read :  "My  greatest  desire  was  to  be 
the  driver  of  the  hearse  that  bore  to  the  grave  the 
remains  of  my  old  master,  my  best  friend." 

Were  I  to  begin  at  Manassas — where  Bee,  Bar- 
stow  and  Drew,  and  a  large  company  of  private 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  37 

soldiers,  whose  names  I  have  not,  were  the  first 
victims  sacrificed  upon  their  country's  altar,  the 
first  of  Southern  heroes  to  answer  to  roll  call  in 
heaven — and  attempt  to  tell  how  Southern  sol- 
diers fought  through  every  conflict,  witli  what  for- 
titude they  bore  every  privation,  and  with  what 
heroism  they  suffered  wounds  and  death,  my  task 
would  never  be  done.  There  is  no  need  to  tell  to 
ex-Confederates  how  our  poorly  armed  soldiers 
under  Beauregard  and  Joe  Johnson  whipped  and 
put  to  inglorious  rout  the  grand  dress-parade 
ninety-day  army  of  the  Union,  which  marched  out 
from  Washington  with  beating  drums  and  flying 
banners  to  measure  arms  with  Southern  freemen. 
The  watchword,  "On  to  Eichmond !"  some  writer 
says  was  changed  to  "Off  for  Washington!"  The 
cry,  "Disperse,  ye  rebels,"  repeated  that  day,  al- 
most over  the  tomb  of  the  father  of  his  country, 
had  no  more  terrors  for  the  sons  than  it  had  in 
the  long  ago  for  their  fatliers.  It  has  been  relia- 
bly stated  that  handcuffs  in  large  quantities  were 
found  after  the  battle.  Alas  for  the  tyrant's 
wicked  calculations;  our  boys  didn't  go  back  to 
Washington  chained  to  the  chariot  wheels  of  the 
conqueror. 

The  question  has  often  been  asked  why  our  vic- 
torious columns  did  not  pursue  the  flying  foe  and 
capture  Washington.  One  answer  comes  that  it 
was  Beauregard's  fault ;  another  that  Johnson  was 
to  blame;  another  that  President  Davis  interfered. 
Honest  old  Jubal  Early  says:  "We  knew  that 
they  were  worse  scared  than  hurt;  but  we  did  not 


38  Reminiscences  of  an 

know,  imtil  too  late,  that  they  never  stopped  run- 
ning until  they  reached  the  Potomac." 

The  real  truth  of  the  matter  was  that  we  only 
asked  and  only  wanted  to  be  let  alone,  and  were 
willing  to  let  them  alone  when  off  our  territory. 
But  they  say  the  Southern  army  w^ent  to  Mary- 
land. Yes,  but  by  Maryland's  invitation.  You 
went  into  Pennsylvania,  they  say.  True  at  a  late 
hour  of  the  war  we  did,  but  not  to  destroy  private 
property  or  to  make  war  on  women  and  children. 

It  was  at  Manassas  that  T.  J.  Jackson,  the  ec- 
centric professor,  so  called,  w^as  introduced  to 
fame.  It  is  said  that  the  night  before  the  battle 
he  dismissed  the  camp  guard,  saying,  "Let  my 
weary  boys  sleep;  I'll  keep  watch,"  and  all  night 
long  the  lone  sentinel  stood  beneath  the  stars  mus- 
ing and  praying  about  to-morrow,  when  he  was  to 
win  not  only  laurels  for  his  brow,  but  the  undying 
name  of  "Stonewall"  Jackson.  Again  and  again 
til  is  wonderful  soldier  made  a  nation  tremble  for 
the  safety  of  its  capital.  The  brilliant  victories 
of  this  Xapoleon  of  the  South  in  the  valley  of 
Virginia,  when  one  by  one  he  fell  upon  and 
whipped  Banks,  Fremont  and  Shields,  brought 
the  name  and  fame  of  Jackson  to  the  front  rank 
of  military  commanders.  His  genius  for  war 
shone  in  such  splendor  as  to  cover  our  continent 
and  to  be  recognized  in  all  Europe. 

Like  ocean's  surging  billows  the  tide  of  battle 
rolled.  At  Oak  Hill,  Elk  Horn  and  Arkansas 
Post;  at  Seven  Pines;  in  the  Wilderness;  at 
Sharpsburg,  at  Gettysburg,  at  Chancellorsville,  at 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  39 

Fredericksburg,  and  down  to  Petersburg,  the 
deadly  strife  went  on. 

Despite  the  brave  resistance  of  our  garrisons  at 
Yicksburg  and  Port  Hudson,  both  of  these  impor- 
tant defenses  of  the  Mississippi  fell  into  the  en- 
emy^s  hands.  New^  Orleans  having  already  been 
taken,  the  control  of  the  river  was  lost  to  us. 
The  surrender  of  Vicksburg  on  the  National  holi- 
day lent  new  spirit  to  our  foes,  and  depressed  our 
own  troops  correspondingly. 

At  Mansfield  Dick  Taylor,  tired  of  retreating 
before  Banks,  turned  on  him,  without  orders,  and 
drove  him  with  heavy  loss  to  Pleasant  Hill,  where 
he  again  put  him  to  rout.  Porter  narrowly  es- 
caped the  capture  of  all  his  gunboats  in  Red  Eiver. 

Walker's  Texans  rapidly  marched  to  Camden, 
in  Arkansas,  and  drove  back  Steele,  who  was  co- 
operating with  Banks. 

Thus  ended  the  attempt  to  invade  the  great 
storehouse  of  the  Confederacy.  Texas  had  an- 
other deliverance  from  the  presence  of  the  enemy 
on  her  soil,  but  as  a  part  of  the  price  she  lost  Tom 
Green. 

Eemarkable  as  was  Magruder's  success  at  Gal- 
veston, we  turn  to  Sabine  Pass,  which  was  mar- 
velous. Mr.  Davis  says:  "The  success  of  this 
company  of  forty-four  men  is  without  parallel  in 
ancient  or  modern  war."  Dick  Dowling  and  his 
brave  Irishmen  enjoy  the  proud  distinction  of 
being  the  only  command  in  all  the  war  whose  full 
muster  roll  appears  in  the  report  of  battle. 

It  was  at  Shiloh,  and  the  preceding  disastrous 


40  Reminiscences  of  an 

surrender  of  Donelson,  for  which  no  sufficient  ex- 
cuse has  ever  been  offered;,  where  victory  seemed  to 
desert  us,  and  a  deep  gloom  to  settle  over  our 
army.  The  great  Johnston,  with  bursting  heart, 
said  not  a  word  while  the  tongue  and  pen  of  his 
enemies  were  busy.  A  junction  was  formed  with 
Beauregard  at  Corinth,  and  soon  we  were  ready 
for  the  fray.  The  Confederate  forces,  numbering 
40,000  men,  took  position  in  front  of  Granfs 
army,  near  Pittsburg  Landing,  on  Friday  night, 
intending  to  attack  next  morning  before  Buell  and 
Wallace  could  reinforce  the  enemy.  A  delay  in 
coming  up  with  our  artillery  compelled  General 
Johnston  to  postpone  the  attack.  On  Sunday 
morning  there  was  no  preaching  at  Shiloh  Church. 
Instead  of  the  songs  of  Zion  were  to  be  heard  the 
yells  of  contending  hosts  and  the  groans  of  dying 
soldiers.  The  advance  seemed  to  take  the  Fed- 
erals unawares.  Quickly,  however,  they  recovered 
from  their  surprise.  Dreadful  was  the  conflict. 
Truly  it  was  brother  aiming  at  brother's  breast 
that  day.  There  were  men  from .  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee  in  both  armies. 

Inch  by  inch  was  the  ground  contested,  but  inch 
by  inch  the  Federals  were  driven  until  their  en- 
campment and  supplies  were  inside  our  lines. 
Like  an  avalanche  the  brave  boys  in  gray  under 
Polk,  Hardee  and  Chalmers  had  driven  back  the 
enemy  from  all  hut  one  of  his  positions.  The 
peerless  Johnston  rode  to  the  front  to  break  that 
arch  of  mighty  resistance.  Just  as  the  enemy 
broke  in  confusion  for  the  shelter  of  his  gunboats 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  41 

for  a  final  stand^,  our  brave  commander  received  a 
shot;  but  feeling  that  upon  this  supreme  moment 
great  issues  hung,  he  kept  his  horse  too  long.  He 
was  in  sight  of  victory.  As  his  body  fell  to  the 
earth,  the  master  spirit  of  the  battle  ascended  to 
heaven.  He  had  lived  long  enough  to  vindicate 
his  name  and  fame  as  a  soldier,  but  not  long 
enough  to  save  his  country's  cause.  The  Presi- 
dent of  the  South  said  of  Albert  Sydney  Johnston : 
"If  by  resigning  I  could  have  made  him  President 
of  the  Confederacy,  I  would  have  done  it."  Again 
he  says:  "Upon  the  brittle  thread  of  that  one 
man's  life  hung  the  destinies  of  the  South.'' 

Leaving  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  large 
quantities  of  arms  and  all  their  encampments,  the 
Federals  rushed  to  the  river.  The  gunboats  kept 
up  a  furious  cannonade,  but  their  shells  went  over 
our  heads.  General  Beauregard,  second  in  com- 
mand, not  realizing  what  this  half  hour  of  day- 
light was  worth,  ordered  the  army  into  camp  for 
the  night.  Thus  perhaps  Grant  missed  a  Con- 
federate prison. 

The  Federal  reinforcements  arrived  that  night, 
and  next  day,  after  a  hotly  contested  field,  our 
army,  with  great  losses,  withdrew  from  the  field. 

General  Breckinridge  was  left  to  cover  the  re- 
treat with  his  brave  Kentuckians.  General  San- 
didge  tells  that  General  Euggles  offered  his  troops 
to  help  to  hold  the  advancing  enemy  in  check. 
General  Breckinridge  replied:  "Tell  the  Louisi- 
ana soldiers,  God  bless  them,  if  they  hear  not  our 
guns  at  dawn  in  the  morning,  to  send  back  a  flag 


42  Keminiscences  of  an 

and  give  us  honorable  burial,  for  we  are  enough 
to  die/" 

Ten  thousand  and  more  upon  each  side,  killed 
wounded  and  missing,  tells  in  language  of  war 
how  the  blue  and  gra}^  fought  at  Shiloh. 

Our  rear  guard  was  hard  pressed  by  Sherman  in 
the  advance  of  a  victorious  army ;  but  Forrest,  the 
untrained  soldier,  who  had  already  taught  his  men 
that  war  meant  fighting  and  fighting  meant  kill- 
ing, was  in  the  saddle.  Isaac  Harrison,  too,  with 
three  hundred  troopers  as  consecrated  as  were  the 
men  who  rode  down  to  death  at  Balaklava,  put  a 
regiment  of  cavalry  and  a  brigade  of  infantry  to 
flight.  The  advance  was  eff'ectually  checked,  and 
our  army  reached  Corinth  without  further  moles- 
tation. 

Murfreesboro,  Corinth,  Franklin  and  Chicka- 
mauga  decimated  the  ranks  of  the  gallant  "x\rmy 
of  Tennessee,"  but  availed  us  nothing.  At  length, 
defeated  in  front  of  Atlanta,  despite  the  gallantry 
of  Hood,  Sherman  had  an  open  march  to  the  sea. 
'  In  vain  had  been  the  efforts  of  mighty  armies 
in  their  "on  to  Eichmond"  march.  McClellan, 
Hooker,  Meade,  Po])e  and  Burnside  all  had  in- 
gloriously  failed.  Grant,  the  conquering  hero  of 
Donelson  and  Vicksburg,  with  all  the  resources  of 
liis  government  and  Europe  at  his  back,  renews  the 
fatal  march. 

What  has  been  the  matter?  What  the  obstacle 
which  for  years  had  hurled  back  in  defeat  these 
mighty  hosts?  Lee,  the  finest  soldier  of  the  cen- 
tury, at  the  head  of  the  finest  army  that  ever  fol- 


EX-CONFEDEEATE  SOLDIER.  43 

lowed  a  banner,  stood  in  front  of  that  beleaguered 
capital. 

At  length  Sherman,  with  fire  and  sword  and  pil- 
lage and  outrage,  disgraceful  even  to  barbarians, 
swept  like  a  besom  through  Georgia  and  the  Caro- 
linas  to  destroy  Joe  Johnson's  army.  At  last  Lee 
must  retreat  and  uncover  Richmond.  The  shad- 
ows are  deepening.  We  are  drifting  towards  Ap- 
pomattox. The  last  shot  from  the  Virginia  bat- 
tery, which  opened  the  fight  four  years  before,  had 
been  fired. 

We  see  Lee  coming  back  with  bowed  head  and 
solemn  face  from  his  interview  with  Grant.  We 
hear  the  order  for  the  thin  ranks  in  gray  to  stack 
arms. 

"It  is  finished."  The  tread  of  armies  which  for 
four  long  years  had  made  the  continent  tremble 
had  come  to  a  fmal  halt. 

Grant  was  magnanimous,  and  Southern  soldiers 
respected  him.  It  has  been  said  that  when  pas- 
sion ruled  and  reason  had  fled  from  our  unhappy 
country,  Andy  Johnson  wanted  to  arraign  Lee  for 
complicity  in  Lincoln's  assassination,  and  that 
Grant  told  Mr.  Johnson,  "Lee  bears  my  parole ; 
you  can't  touch  him."  The  death  of  General  Grant 
did  more  towards  bridging  the  bloody  span  than 
did  his  eventful  life.  See  the  great  soldier  as  he 
sits  upon  the  mountain  top,  with  the  cold  waves 
breaking  at  his  feet;  see  him,  when  his  tongue  re- 
fuses utterance,  with  a  hand  trained  for  the  sword 
he  writes,  "Let  us  have  peace." 

Going  back  to  that  sad  surrender,  the  reader 


44  Reminiscences  of  an 

wants  to  know  who  answered  to  the  last  roll  call 
"Here/* 

Lee  was  there,  and  few  save  Lee  ever  deserved 
such  a  eulogy  as  that  pronounced  by  Ben  Hill  of 
Georgia.  He  said:  "^Tien  the  future  historian 
comes  to  survey  the  character  of  Eobert  E.  Lee  he 
will  find  it  rising  like  a  great  mountain  above  the 
undulating  plain  of  humanity,  and  will  be  com- 
pelled to  lift  his  eyes  heavenward  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  its  summit.  He  possessed  every  virtue 
of  the  other  great  commanders  of  history,  without 
any  of  their  vices.  He  was  a  foe  without  hate,  a 
friend  without  treachery,  a  private  citizen  without 
wrong,  a  neighbor  without  reproach,  a  Christian 
without  hypocrisy,  and  a  man  without  guile.  He 
was  a  Caesar  without  his  ambition,  a  Frederick 
without  his  tyranny,  a  N'apoleon  without  his  self- 
ishness, and  a  Washington  without  his  reward. 
He  was  as  obedient  to  authority  as  a  servant,  and 
as  loyal  to  authority  as  a  true  king.  He  was  as 
gentle  as  a  woman,  modest  and  pure  as  a  virgin, 
watchful  as  a  Eoman  vestal  on  duty,  and  grand  in 
battle  as  Achilles." 

Gordon  was  there — the  battle-scarred  hero  of  a 
hundred  fights.  Long  may  he  yet  live  to  bless  his 
country.  Longstreet  and  Joe  Wheeler  and  Fitz 
Lee  were  there.  The  valiant  Hood  was  there,  but 
where  was  the  old  brigade  which  had  shed  such 
luster  on  his  name?  Where  were  the  men,  as 
brave  as  they  who  charged  at  Marathon,  and  as 
heroic  as  they  who  stood  with  Leonidas?  It  was 
at  Sharpsburg,  where  he  led  into  the  charge  four 


EX-CONFEDETIATE  SOLDIER.  45 

thousand  men  and  brought  back  seven  hundred, 
that  General  Evans  asked,  "General  Hood,  where 
is  your  command?"  He  answered,  "Dead  on  the 
field." 

Near  by  was  Jefferson  Davis,  loved  and  honored 
by  his  people,  who,  as  scholar,  soldier  and  states- 
man, stood  in  the  world's  front  rank.  He  was 
imprisoned  and  charged  with  crime,  but  never 
tried.  Why?  To  acquit  Mr.  Davis  of  treason  at 
a  public  trial  was  to  justify  the  South. 

England's  present  king,  when  Prince  of  Wales, 
standing  in  reverence  with  uncovered  head  at  the 
tomb  of  the  patriot  Washington  is,  let  us  believe, 
but  a  foreshadowing  of  the  day,  now  near  at  hand, 
when  the  descendants  of  men  who  wore  the  blue 
and  the  gray,  as  together  they  stand  with  uncov- 
ered heads  at  the  graves  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and 
Jefferson  Davis,  will  be  proud  that  they  were  hoth 
Americans. 

But  where  on  that  eventful  day  were  Johnston, 
Hill,  Stuart,  Ashby,  Polk,  Cleburne,  Mouton,  Tom 
Green,  Scurry,  Granbury,  Rogers,  Ben  McCulloch 
and  Stonewall  Jackson,  and  three  hundred  thou- 
sand men,  whose  names  were  not  written  down  in 
reports  of  battles?  Gone  beyond  the  reach  of 
praise.  "On  fame's  eternal  camping  ground  their 
silent  tents  are  spread,'^  but  loyal,  loving  hearts 
still  guard  the  bivouac  of  our  dead. 

Of  Stonewall  Jackson  General  Lee  said:  "His 
matchless  skill,  his  splendid  achievements,  won  for 
him  the  lasting  love  and  gratitude  of  a  nation." 
When  Jackson  was  wounded,  General  Lee  wrote 


46  Reminiscences  of  an 

him:  "You  have  lost  your  left  arm,  but  I  have 
lost  my  right ;  better  for  the  cause  that  I  had  been 
disabled  myself."  When  told  of  General  Lee's 
letter,  the  dying  soldier  said,  "Better  that  ten 
Jacksons  fell  than  one  Lee." 

In  vain  have  Southern  soldiers  meditated  and 
tried  to  reason  about  Jackson's  death,  about  the 
loss  of  this  phenomenal  soldier,  absolutely  irre- 
sistible in  battle,  because  of  his  faith  in  his  God, 
with  whom  he  talked  as  did  Moses,  and  with  whom 
he  walked  as  did  Enoch.  We  can  not  read  the 
providence;  like  little  children  we  stagger  at  the 
why.  We  think  we  see  the  divine  direction  that 
he  was  not  to  fall  by  an  enemy's  hand,  but  to  be 
wounded  by  his  friends,  carried  home  as  gently  as 
war  would  permit,  there  to  die  in  the  bosom  of  his 
family,  as  sweetly  as  a  child.  "Rest,  Stonewall, 
faithful  to  cross  and  country.  Let  ns  not  weep  for 
him  who  ascended  Fame's  ladder  so  high,  from 
the  round  at  the  top  he  stepped  off  to  the  sky." 

When  the  Confederate  soldier  laid  down  his 
arms  he  did  it  in  good  faith.  He  had  done  his 
duty;  there  was  nothing  in  his  record  of  which  he 
was  ashamed.  By  a  long  and  weary  march  he 
reaches  the  old  home,  to  find  vacant  chairs  at  the 
table,  and  ruin  and  desolation  on  every  side.  He 
is  almost  overwhelmed,  almost  ready  to  despair, 
when  sister  speaks,  and  the  spirit  of  a  dead  mother 
whispers,  "Hope  on,  and  by  God's  help  rebuild  the 
waste  places." 

"\^nien  the  great  trial  came  and  he  was  asked  to 
give  up  his  sons  to  fight  with  Wlieeler  and  Fitz 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  47 

Lee  under  the  old  flag  against  which  he  had  fought 
so  long  and  hard,  he  bore  the  test  like  a  man,  and 
like  an  American.  To-day,  as  a  patriotic  citizen 
of  a  State  in  the  great  Union  of  States,  he  ac- 
knowledges no  superior. 


48  Reminiscences  op  an 


CHAPTER  V. 


The  Women  of  the  South. 

At  every  crisis  in  the  home,  the  church,  the 
State,  where  man's  falling  arm  needed  lifting; 
where  man^s  drooping  spirits  needed  reviving; 
where  man's  faint  heart  needed  fresh  courage,  he 
must  turn  to  woman,  who  has  ever  been  the  dia- 
mond setting  in  the  pure  gold  of  his  best  efforts. 
At  every  milestone  in  the  world's  history  we  see  a 
woman  as  the  central  figure. 

When  the  covenant  was  made  with  Abraham, 
Sarah  was  a  party  to  it.  When  a  leader  was 
wanted  to  deliver  Israel,  Miriam  and  Thermutis 
preserved  the  life  of  Moses. 

At  the  birth  of  Christianity  we  see  a  Mary  giv- 
ing to  the  world  the  Incarnate  Son,  and  thus 
proudly  redeeming  the  fatal  step  made  by  the 
mother  of  us  all  in  the  garden.  On  the  resurrec- 
tion morn,  when  the  carpenter's  son  burst  the 
bonds  of  the  tomb,  it  was  to  a  woman  was  given 
the  gladdest  message  ever  spoken. 

When  English  Protestantism  was  born  and 
needed  a  defender,  we  see  an  Elizabeth. 

At  the  birth  of  Methodism  we  see  Susannah 
Wesley. 

When  self-sacrificing  heroism  was  wanted  to 
save  France,  behold  a  Joan  of  Arc. 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  49 

When  a  new  continent  was  discovered,  Isabella's 
jewels  defrayed  the  costs. 

When  African  slaverj''  was  attacked,  Harriet 
Beech er  Stowe  furnished  the  inspiration. 

The  Christian  Temperance  Union  found  its 
very  embodiment  in  Frances  Willard. 

The  cry  from  helpless,  downtrodden  woman- 
hood in  Armenia  was  answered  by  Clara  Barton. 

It  is  in  my  heart  to  honor  true  womanhood,  no 
matter  upon  what  page  of  history  or  in  what  lan- 
guage I  find  her  virtues  recorded. 

The  above  illustrious  examples  of  great  and 
good  women,  who  in  their  day  were  messengers  of 
love  and  light,  are  furnished  that  we  may  the  more 
admire  and  the  better  appreciate  the  exalted  type 
of  womanhood  whose  pen  picture  I  am  going  to 
paint.  The  Southern  women  of  the  sixties,  in  face, 
feature  and  form,  were  unsurpassed  by  the  loveliest 
of  their  sisters,  no  matter  from  what  clime  they 
come.  For  proof  of  her  mental  culture  and  intel- 
lectual acquirements,  go  through  the  libraries  and 
art  galleries  of  the  world  and  read  her  triumphs. 
For  her  influence  on  the  young,  on  which  eternity 
alone  marks  the  bounds,  read  of  her  patient  toil  as 
teacher  in  our  schools,  academies  and  colleges.  But 
her  peculiar  realm  was  not  here.  We  have  but 
reached  the  borders  of  the  kingdom  where  she 
reigned  a  queen  with  title  as  undisputed  as  was 
that  of  Victoria.  Her  kingdom  was  the  home, 
her  rule  was  love,  and  her  loftiest  ambition  was  to 
weave  into  the  dark  web  of  life  some  golden 
Reminiscences — 4. 


50  Eeminiscences  of  an 

threads.  Hating  deception,  she  taught  frankness ; 
shocked  at  coarseness,  she  taught  refinement;  lov- 
ing truth  and  virtue,  she  instructed  her  subjects  to 
shun  vice,  to  hate  a  lie,  and  to  prefer  death  to 
dishonor.  Thus  day  by  day  she  taught,  not  to 
vast  audiences  from  pulpit  or  platform,  for  she 
blushed  at  notoriety,  but  around  her  own  hearth- 
stone this  guardian  of  Southern  homes  delivered 
her  grand  sermons  to  an  audience  of  her  own 
loved  ones. 

A  study  of  Southern  character  attests  the  fact 
that  her  work  was  well  and  nobly  done.  Next  to 
her  home  she  loved  her  country.  ISTo  Roman 
matron  or  Spartan  mother  ever  displayed  more 
patriotism,  performed  more  heroic  deeds,  or  left 
more  lasting  footprints  upon  the  pathway  leading 
up  to  glory.  History^s  pages  tell  but  imperfectly 
of  the  deeds  of  daring  done  by  Southern  soldiers 
on,  every  hard-fought  field  from  Bull  Run  to  Ap- 
pomattox; but  signally  fails  to  tell  of  the  spirit 
and  determination  of  the  women,  who  animated 
their  brothers  and  sons  from  the  beginning  of  the 
conflict,  and  were  the  last  to  abandon  the  cause 
when  Southern  hopes  were  vanishing.  "No  muse 
has  sung  and  no  minstrel  strung  the  lyre  to  fitly 
perpetuate  the  story  of  her  '  sacrifices  and  self- 
denial  during  the  long,  dark  days  of  war."  It  is 
harder  to  wait  and  bear  than  to  do  and  dare. 

A  true  story  comes  to  my  mind.  A  private  sol- 
dier received  a  letter  from  home  which  read: 
"Dear  Will:  The  Yankees  have  raided  our  home 
and  left  nothing.     I  fear  the  children  and  me  will 


Ex-CONFEDEliATE   SOLDIER.  51 

starve.  Our  neighbors  are  not  able  to  help  us. 
Gome  home  if  you  can  honorably,  but  dont  de- 
sert/' Asking  for  a  furlough  and  being  refused, 
the  poor  fellow  slipped  out  of  camp  that  night. 
He  was  arrested,  court-martialed,  and  shot. 

Would  that  my  pen  were  inspired  with  celestial 
fire  that  I  might  tell  in  letters  of  living  light  how 
Southern  womanhood  cheered  on  to  the  front 
where  the  battle  raged.  How  she  bathed  the  brow, 
of  the  dying  and  bent  low  to  catch  the  whispered 
message  for* absent  wife  or  mother.  How  on  field 
and  in  hospital  she  nursed  back  to  life  the 
wounded  heroes.  How  in  tlie  ^Svards  of  the  white- 
washed halls,"  where  the  dead  and  the  wounded 
lay,  she  pressed  a  kiss  upon  the  forehead  of  some- 
body's darling  dying  that  day.  How  when  all  was 
lost  but  honor  she  brushed  away  her  tears,  shook 
off  the  ashes  of  her  grief  as  she  rose  from  the  ruins 
of  her  desolated  hearthstone,  with  eyes  turned 
toward  heaven,  with  face  illuminated  by  a  faith 
which  none  but  a  woman  can  know,  she  whispers, 
"When  life's  duties  are  done,  dear,  I'll  come  to  you 
over  the  river,  under  the  shade  of  the  trees." 

Then,  had  I  a  pen  with  fountain  filled  with  the 
blood  of  the  bravest  and  the  best,  I'd  write  upon 
the  margin  of  the  last  page  of  the  record,  as  her 
crowning  glory,  how  she  bid  Southern  manhood 
turn  away  from  the  sepulcher  of  buried  hopes  and 
the  furled  and  conquered  banner,  and  pointed  to 
the  future,  where  with  prophetic  eye  she  saw  an 
undivided  and  indivisible  American  Union. 

All  honor  be  to  Southern  womanhood,  and  the 


52  Eeminiscences  of  an 

eternal  love  and  gratitude  of  all  who  wore  the  gray 
to  the  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy,  on  whom  we 
depend  to  relieve  the  wants  and  guard  the  name 
and  fame  of  the  Confederate  soldier. 

Sons  of  Southern  soldiers  owe  to  themselves  and 
to  their  heroic  mothers  the  sacred  duty  to  erect  a 
monument  of  earth^s  rarest  marble,  chiseled  into 
the  fairest  form  that  skillful  artists  know,  and 
dedicate  it  to  the  Southern  Women  of  the  Sixties. 


EX-C0NFEDE1?ATE  SOLDIER.  53 


CHAPTER  VI 


Confederate  Reunions — Decorations  at  Camp 
Chase. 

Eeunions  of  ex-Confederates  in  the  South  and 
the  decoration  of  their  graves  provoked  unkind 
criticism,  for  a  time,  from  narrow  minds.  Gen- 
eral Shaw,  ex-commander  G.  A.  R.,  in  a  speech  at 
Atlanta,  said:  "The  keeping  alive  of  sectional 
teaching  as  to  the  justice  and  right  of  the  cause 
of  the  South  in  the  hearts  of  the  children  is  all 
out  of  order,  unwise,  unjust  and  utterly  opposed 
to  the  bond  by  which  Lee  solemnly  bound  the 
cause  of  the  South  in  the  final  surrender.^'  Gen- 
eral Gordon  answered :  "I  can  not  teach  my  chil- 
dren that  I  fought  for  what  was  wrong.  Only 
the  judgment  day  and  God  Himself  will  ever  de- 
cide who  was  right." 

General  Shaw  was  right  when  he  said  "that  chil- 
dren North  and  South  should  alike  be  taught  to 
love  the  old  flag  and  to  support  it."  Has  not  that 
lesson  been  already  learned  around  Northern  and 
Southern  firesides  alike?  Did  not  sons  of  men 
who  aimed  at  each  other's  breast  in  the  sixties 
stand  side  by  side  in  the  nineties  ?  Who  will  dare 
to  say  that  Southern  boys  were  not  true  to  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  in  Cuba,  Luzon,  China  and  "off 
Santiago"  ? 


54  Reminiscences  of  an 

Why,  then,  these  reunions?  Simply  for  his- 
torical, charitable  and  social  purposes.  The  old 
soldiers  love  to  meet  and  greet  our  daughters  and 
tell  them  how  their  noble  mothers  cheered  our 
drooping  hearts,  how  they  toiled  for  us,  how  they 
prayed  for  us,  nursed  the  sick  and  wounded,  con- 
soled the  dying,  and  wept  over  the  dead.  They 
love  to  discuss  with  these  blessed  women  their 
plans  about  giving  aid  to  heroes  living  and  build- 
ing monuments  in  honor  of  heroes  dead.  The  old 
soldiers  love  to  tell  to  their  sons  that  they  were  not 
traitors.  Treason  never  lurked  in  a  Southern 
heart. 

The  decoration  of  soldier  graves  began  at  the 
national  cemetery  in  Alexandria.  It  was  a  great 
day  in  Washington.  Thousands  of  brave  men,  fair 
women  and  beautiful  children  visited  the  cemetery 
and  strewed  the  graves  of  Federal  soldiers  with  the 
rarest  flowers,  but  failed  to  drop  a  single  rose  upon 
the  Confederate  graves  in  yonder  corner.  That 
night  a  cloud  came  up,  a  furious  wind  blew,  and 
next  morning  the  graves  of  Union  soldiers  were 
bare,  but  in  that  neglected  corner  the  graves  were 
buried  beneath  the  covering  of  fragrant  flowers. 
The  angels  of  God  rode  out  with  the  storm-king 
tliat  night  to  rebuke  a  mean  spirit  of  sectionalism 
and  hate. 

The  custom  grew  both  North  and  South  until 
it  is  now  universal  and  recognized  by  statute.  Our 
late  murdered  President,  William  McKinley,  won 
a  great  big  plaOe  in  the  Southern  heart  by  his 
manly  position  on  this  question. 


EX-CONFEDEBATE  SOLDIER.  65 

To  William  H.  Knauss,  ex-Federal  soldier,  car- 
rying wounds  received  at  Fredericksburg,  belongs 
the  thanks  of  Southern  men,  and  a  wreath  of  im- 
mortelles from  Southern  women. 

In  the  old  Camp  Chase  burial  ground  sleep 
more  than  two  thousand  Confederate  soldiers. 
This  neglected  spot,  grown  in  weeds  and  briars, 
touched  the  heart  of  this  noble  man.  He  began 
and  never  ceased  to  advertise  the  shame.  At  last, 
^  to  their  honor  be  it  said,  Rutherford  B.  Hayes, 
when  Governor  of  Ohio,  ordered  the  graves  to  be 
cleared  off;  and  J.  B.  Foraker,  his  successor,  had 
a  stone  wall  built  around  the  plat.  Colonel 
Knauss  took  up  the  work  of  identifying  and  mark- 
ing the  graves.  He  next  solicited  flowers  from  the 
South  every  year,  and  held  a  decoration  service. 
At  first  he  was  almost  alone;  but  last  year  on 
"Confederate  day"  the  Union  veterans  came  and 
strewed  flowers  on  the  graves  of  their  old-time  an- 
tagonists. In  a  speech  on  that  occasion  the  old 
Northern  hero  said :  "When  I  asked  some  friends 
to  join  with  me  in  holding  appropriate  services  at 
this  place  over  the  graves  of  these  Americans, 
some  refused.  Others  said,  'Wliat !  recognize  those 
acts?  No;  that  won't  do.'  Others  said,  ^es, 
that's  right;  I  will  join  you.'  But  the  most  of 
them  came  to  me  afterwards  and  said,  'I  will  have 
to  refrain  from  taking  part;  the  papers  will  prob- 
ably criticise  our  acts.'  Some  were  afraid  of  being 
affected  politically,  while  some  were  afraid  of 
newspapers.  The  result  j^ou  all  know.  The  papers 
did  criticise  us,  but  in  a  commendable  manner,  and 


56  Eeminiscences  of  an 

gave  us  credit  as  Americans  doing  honor  to  Amer- 
icans.'^  And  then  he  read  an  extract  from  a  letter 
which  he  had  received  from  General  Moorman,  of 
New  Orleans,  as  follows :  "It  will  be  a  revelation 
to  many,  and  will  come  in  the  nature  of  a  surprise 
and  benediction,  that  while  kindred  and  loved  ones 
are  scattering  flowers  over  the  graves  of  their  dead 
on  Southern  soil  that  strangers,  aye,  our  former 
foes,  are  decorating  with  spring's  choicest  flowers 
the  graves  of  our  known  and  unknown  dead  who 
sleep  upon  Northern  soil,  far  from  home  and  kin- 
dred/' 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  57 


CHAPTER  VII 


A.  D.  1865. 

Reason  staggers  to  contemplate  this  awful  pe- 
riod. Memory  weeps  over  its  horrors,  and  the 
patriot's  soul  blushes  at  its  enormities.  Was  it 
not  enough  that  the  hungry,  tired  soldiers  in  gray 
were  compelled  in  the  face  of  superior  numbers  to 
furl  their  tattered  banners?  Was  it  not  enough 
that  there  was  mourning  in  almost  every  home 
from  the  lakes  to  the  gulf?  Was  it  not  enough 
that  the  hitherto  patient  and  obedient  slaves,  mad 
with  license  given  them,  not  for  their  good  but 
for  our  hurt,  were  encouraged  by  the  invaders  to 
commit  excesses?  Surely  the  anger  of  the  god  of 
war  ought  to  have  been  appeased  by  all  the  blood 
that  had  been  shed  and  all  the  ruin  that  had  been 
wrought.  Not  so ;  we  were  to  drink  the  last  bitter 
dregs  in  the  cup  of  civil  war. 

Mr.  Lincoln,  the  leading  spirit  of  the  jSTorth, 
had  been  assassinated.  Mr.  Davis,  the  master 
mind  of  the  South,  had  been  incarcerated.  The 
blackest  spot  upon  American  history  is  the  page 
which  tells  of  the  cowardly  murder  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  the  no  less  cowardly  indignities  put 
upon  Jefferson  Davis.  The  hand  which  struck 
down  the  President  of  the  North  was  doubtless 
that  of  an  insane  man  maddened  by  defeat.     The 


58  Reminiscences  of  an 

hand  that  jDenned  the  order  for  manacles  to  be 
placed  on  the  wrists  of  Mr.  Davis  was  that  of  a 
t3Tant  drunk  with  victory. 

I  know  I  voice  the  sentiment  of  ex- Confederates 
in  sa3ing  that  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  at  that 
time,  was  the  greatest  calamity  that  could  have 
befallen  us.  As  pilot  of  the  ship  of  state,  he  had 
sailed  through  the  breakers  of  secession.  He  had 
weathered  storms  such  as  his  predecessors  never 
dreamed  of.  True,  he  had  destroyed  the  Consti- 
tution to  save  the  Union,  but  he  had  the  confidence 
of  his  section  ^nd  Congress  would  have  heeded  his 
recommendations.  Not  so  with  his  successor,  Mr. 
Johnson.  He  enjoyed  neither  the  respect  of  the 
■South  nor  the  confidence  of  the  North.  No  won- 
der, then,  at  the  woes  of  reconstruction. 

John  H.  Reagan  in  speaking  of  those  dark  days 
said:  "Beaten  in  battle;  denied  political  rights 
and  the  protection  of  law;  governed  by  an  un- 
friendly military  autliorit}^  and  by  negroes,  car- 
petbaggers and  scalawags ;  plundered  and  robbed 
by  employes  of  the  treasury  department  and  con- 
stantly menaced  by  loyal  leagues,  tlie  condition  of 
the  Southern  people  seemed  to  be  as  hopeless  as 
can  well  be  imagined." 

It  was  my  good  fortune  to  turn  my  face  from 
this  sad  picture.  Schools  and  colleges  had  gone 
down  in  the  common  wreck.  Quite  a  number  of 
young  men  from  Louisiana  and  Mississippi  deter- 
mined to  complete  our  education  in  France. 


EXnCONFEDERATE   SOLDIER.  59 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


Off  to  Europe. 

On  August  15,  1865,  we  sailed  from  New  Or- 
leans for  Liverpool  on  the  "Glad  Tidings,"  a  large 
sailing  vessel,  with  a  cargo  of  cotton.  Our 
passage  was  purposely  taken  on  a  sailing  ship 
because  we  were  almost  invalids,  and  the 
longer  voyage,  together  with  greater  freedom 
on  the  ship,  on  which  we  were  the  only  passengers, 
promised  to  contribute  largely  to  our  restoration 
to  health.  In  this  expectation  of  our  friends,  who 
acted  for  us,  we  were  not  disappointed.  A  good 
table,  which  to  an  ex-Confederate  seemed  sumptu- 
ous, together  with  the  salt-laden  breezes,  soon 
brought  vigor  to  our  run-down  systems.  We  en- 
joyed the  freedom  of  the  ship  from  the  forecastle, 
where  we  listened  to  the  sailors'  yarns,  to  the  cap- 
tain's room,  where  we  plied  the  good-natured  Bos- 
ton man  with  innumerable  questions. 

Accustomed  to  ride  on  water  w^ith  the  shore  in 
sight,  the  stoutest  of  us  almost  regretted  our  ven- 
ture when  the  tug  turned  us  loose  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Mississippi  Eiver.  We  were  strangers  to  the 
sea,  whose  light-rolling  waves  stirred  by  gentle 
breezes  delighted  us;  whose  glorious  sunrises  and 
matchless  sunsets  charmed  us ;  whose  white-capped 
waves,  madly  rushing  before  the  storm,  affrighted 


60  Reminiscences  of  an 

us.  We  reflected.  One  seems  nearer  God  upon 
the  ocean  than  upon  the  land,  and  the  helplessness 
of  man  more  apparent.  In  the  midst  of  the  storm 
it  was  comforting  to  think  that  He  who  is  God 
upon  the  sea  as  well  as  upon  the  land  remembered 
those  "who  went  down  to  the  sea  in  ships."  Coop- 
er's hardy  old  seaman.  Master  Coffin,  said  he  never 
could  see  the  use  of  more  land  than  now  and  then 
a  small  island  to  raise  a  few  vegetables  and  to 
dry  your  fish.  Our  boys  after  a  three  days'  %low" 
could  not  see  the  use  of  any  more  sea  than  a  few 
small  ponds  to  fish  and  bathe  in. 

After  a  voyage  of  forty-four  days,  our  good  ship 
cast  anchor  in  the  Mersey  River  at  Liverpool.  We 
had  experienced  fair  winds,  head  winds,  calms 
and  storms.  We  came  near  being  driven  upon  the 
rocks  on  the  Irish  coast,  but  our  crew  with  great 
danger  to  us  all  ^l^outed"  the  ship. 

Liverpool  is  the  principal  seaport  of  England. 
The  cotton  trade  with  America  is  so  immense  that 
here  is  found  perhaps  the  finest  system  of  docks 
in  the  world.  A  few  hours  for  rest  at  the  Wash- 
ington Hotel  and  then  on  to  London.  When  we 
waked  in  the  morning  at  the  Charing  Cross  Hotel 
it  was  difficult  to  realize  that  our  dearest  wishes 
had  found  fruition  and  that  we  were  in  old  Eng- 
land, the  mother  country  from  which  a  century 
before  our  forefathers  had  emigrated. 

iit  last  we  were  on  the  "Island  Mistress  of  the 
Sea,"  about  which  we  had  read  and  heard  so  much. 
We  were  in  London,  too,  the  largest  city  in  the 
world,  where  age  is  reckoned  not  by  quarter  or 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  61 

half  centuries,  as  in  America,  but  by  a  thousand 
years.  With  guide  book  in  hand  we  set  out.  We 
took  no  guide,  because  we  did  not  understand  his 
language,  so  reckless  are  that  class  of  English 
with  their  ^Ti's"  and  accent.  First  we  went  to 
Trafalgar  Square  to  view  the  grand  monument 
erected  to  the  memory  of  Nelson,  the  great  admiral 
who  met  his  death  at  the  moment  of  victory  over  a 
French  fleet.  From  its  lofty  top  almost  it 
seemed  we  could  catch  the  never-dying  words, 
"England  expects  every  man  to  do  his  duty."  It 
is  upon  this  public  square  that  the  people  congre- 
gate to  discuss  their  wrongs  and  petition  for  re- 
dress. Of  course  we  visited  Westminster  Abbey, 
this  old  church  where  kings  and  queens  are 
crowned,  and  where  lie  in  royal  splendor  kings, 
queens,  soldiers,  statesmen  and  poets,  and  marble 
tablets  in  honor  of  many  who  sleep  elsewhere. 
Monarchies  seem  more  grateful  than  republics. 
Near  by  we  entered  Parliament  House,  where  lords 
and  common  meet  to  legislate. 

Standing  in  these  grand  halls,  the  question 
would  not  down.  Are  not  the  liberties  of  the  people 
better  assured  under  a  limited  monarchy?  In 
England  the  people  really  rule,  and  are  in  a  great 
measure  protected  against  the  ambitious  designs  of 
politicians  who  can  only  aspire  to  second  place  in 
the  kingdom.  These  thoughts  were  doubtless  bom 
of  our  terrible  experiences  just  passed.  Kings  and 
queens  may  come  and  go,  but  it  will  be  long  be- 
fore England  sees  another  Victoria.  Among  all 
classes  her  praises  were  sung  and  tears  of  S3rm- 


62  Reminiscences  of  an 

pathy  were  falling  for  her  in  her  terrible  grief  at 
the  death  of  the  noble-minded  prince  consort. 

Of  course  we  crossed  the  old  London  Bridge, 
where  tens  of  thousands  press  upon  each  other  as 
they  go.  We  thought  of  and  repeated  the  words 
of  Longfellow  '^as  he  stood  on  the  bridge  at  mid- 
night.'^ 

We  passed  in  sight  of  Buckingham  Palace,  the 
home  of  royalty,  and  went  down  to  Windsor  Castle, 
the  favorite  home  of  the  queen. 

London  Tower  is  full  of  interest.  Here,  in  liv- 
ing tombs,  were  hid  away  in  darlniess  and  solitude 
distinguished  prisoners  of  state.  We  entered  the 
cells  from  which  Walter  Raleigh  and  Mary  Queen 
of  Scots  came  out  to  lay  their  necks  upon  the 
block. 

We  went  by  rail  to  'New  Haven,  thence  by 
steamer  across  the  turbulent  channel  to  Dieppe, 
and  on  to  Paris  in  apartment  cars  with  seats  for 
four  persons.  An  officer  in  military  dress  locked 
the  car,  which  was  opened  at  Paris  by  an  official 
who  inquired  minutely  where  we  were  from  and 
where  we  were  going.  During  the  days  of  the 
Empire  persons  entering  France  were  "listed," 
and  in  a  quiet  way  an  eye  was  ever  on  them. 

Paris  is  the  gayest  and  most  beautiful  city  in 
the  world.  It  seemed  that  it  was  dressed  in  holi- 
day attire.  A  continuous  festival  seemed  in  prog- 
ress of  celebration.  The  grand  boulevards,  wid- 
ened and  straightened  regardless  of  expense,  with 
throngs  of  happy  people  upon  the  broad  side- 
walks, are  unequaled  in  our  own  country.    A  street 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  63 

had  been  but  recently  opened  along  by  the  Tuil- 
leries  for  which  hundreds  of  houses  had  been  torn 
away.  The  French  have  always  an  eye  for  the 
beautiful.  The  exuberant  spirits,  gay  laughter 
and  elegant  toilets  of  pleasure-loving  Parisians 
impresses  the  stranger  that  there  are  no  skeletons 
in  their  closets.  Live  while  you  live,  and  then  the 
muddy  Seine,  seems  to  be  the  motto  of  this  god- 
less people. 

Napoleon  was  popular,  but  the  beautiful  Eu- 
genie was  almost  the  idol  of  France.  The  empe- 
ror well  understood  how  Frenchmen  delighted  in 
militar}^  splendor,  and  Paris  teemed  with  splen- 
didly dressed  officers  of  all  grades  and  ranks. 
Paris  is  France  in  a  governmental  and  political 
sense,  but  not  otherwise.  Xapoleon,  who  regarded 
not  the  common  people  of  the  provinces,  made  a 
mistake,  which  a  few  years  later  he  realized  when 
he  lost  his  empire  at  Sedan  and  France  lost  Alsace 
and  Lorraine.  The  country  people  of  France, 
who  rarely  ever  leave  their  vine-clad  hills,  are 
industrious,  virtuous  and  patriotic.  History  re- 
cords how  they  bought  the  bonds  of  France  to  raise 
a  billion  francs  to  pay  to  Germany. 

The  palace  of  the  Tuilleries,  the  theater  of  the 
gayest  court  in  Europe,  first  attracts  attention 
because  of  its  most  beautiful  gardens.  How  little 
dreamed  the  gay  imperial  family  that  soon  the 
young  prince,  who  rode  there,  would  lose  his  life 
at  the  hands  of  savage  Africans;  that  Eugenie  in 
widow's  weeds  would  be  an  exile  in  England,  and 


64  Eeminiscences  of  an 

this  great  palace  would  become  the  home  of  a  re- 
ptiblican  president  once  more. 

Place  de  la  Concorde  is  the  largest  and  most 
beautiful  public  square  in  Paris.  Here  stood  the 
guillotine  which  struck  off  the  heads  of  king  and 
queen  and  thousands  of  the  nobility.  Here  died 
Madam  Poland,  who  said  as  she  ascended  the 
steps,  "0  Liberty!  what  crimes  are  committed  in 
thy  name."  On  one  side  of  this  square  stands  the 
Louvre,  the  art  palace  of  the  world.  On  the  other 
side  is  the  j\Iadeleine,  the  church  of  St.  Mary  Mag- 
dalene. It  is  said  to  have  cost  three  million  dol- 
lars. The  Grand  Opera  House  of  theater-loving 
Paris  cost  eleven  millions  of  dollars. 

We  visited  the  July  Column,  which  marks  the 
site  of  the  famous  Bastile,  torn  down  by  the  revo- 
lutionists in  1789,  and  the  key  sent  by  the  hands 
of  Lafayette  to  Washington. 

Notre  Dame  Cathedral  possesses  wonderful  in- 
terest. It  was  the  church  from  whose  altars  the 
Commune  tore  the  images  of  Christ  and  the  Vir- 
gin and  substituted  a  beautiful  personation  of  the 
Goddess  of  Eeason,  and  over  the  cemetery  gates 
were  inscribed  the  words,  "Death  is  an  eternal 
sleep." 

The  Hotel  des  Invalides,  an  immense  building 
situated  in  large  and  beautiful  grounds  on  the 
bank  of  the  Seine,  is  a  home  for  old  and  disabled 
soldiers.  I  saw  and  talked  with  men  who  fought 
under  the  first  N'apoleon ;  and  here  in  the  dome  of 
this  great  building  is  the  tomb  of  the  mighty 
warrior.     As  I  stood  by  that  tomb  I  thought  of 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  65 

Austerlitz,  of  Lodi,  of  the  passage  of  the  Alps,  of 
the  retreat  from  Moscow,  of  Waterloo,  and  of  St. 
Helena ;  and  as  I  read  the  inscription  in  French, — 
"I  want  ni}^  remains  to  lie  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Seine,  in  the  midst  of  the  French  people  whom  I 
have  so  much  loved," — I  thought  liow  this  brilliant 
Corsican  loved  France,  and  with  all  his  faults 
how  France  loved  him. 

We  set  out  for  Tours,  a  lovely  little  city  in  the 
south,  where  we  entered  the  Lycee  Imperial,  a 
school  of  fine  repute.  Our  American  boys,  twelve 
in  number,  were  not  required  to  board  in  the  insti- 
tution. We  found  pleasant  rooms  in  the  Hotel  du 
Faisin,  of  which  Mons.  Trotignon  was  proprietor. 

Most  of  us,  having  learned  French  in  Louisiana, 
made  fine  progress  in  our  studies.  The  faculty^ 
and  indeed  all  the  citizens,  were  good  friends  to 
les  Americain,  especially  after  they  learned  that 
we  were  from  the  Southern  army,  Stonewall 
Jackson  was  known  and  spoken  of  as  "Le  Na- 
poleon de  la  Sud." 

The  popularity  of  the  American  bo5^s  was  se- 
verely tested,  however.  Not  a  great  while  after 
we  reached  there,  some  of  our  boys  in  some  way- 
procured  a  long  disused  hand  organ,  and  proceeded 
one  night  in  their  rooms  to  grind  out  the  tunes. 
Ere  long,  to  their  dismay,  the  old  instrument  be- 
gan to  strike  the  notes  of  the  soul-stirring  Mar- 
seillaise Hymn.  Very  soon  the  gendarmes  were  at 
the  door,  seized  the  organ,  and  arrested  the  boys. 
After  many  protestations  and  promises,  they  were 
Reminiscences — 5, 


66  Reminiscexces  of  ax 

spared  the  prison  for  the  night,  but  had  to  appear 
before  the  proviseur  of  the  city,  and  instead  of 
receiving  a  heavy  fine  and  imprisonment,  got  only 
a  kind  lecture. 

At  our  hotel  was  a  Virginia  lady,  Mrs.  Fowles, 
living  in  Tours  to  educate  her  niece,  little  Miss 
Hattie  Lamar,  a  child  of  wealthy  parents,  who 
were  lost  on  the  "Star  of  the  West,"  which  foun- 
dered at  sea.  It  was  like  finding  a  Southern  home 
in  France  to  visit  Mrs,  Fowles'  rooms,  which  we 
often  did.  She  was  indeed  a  mother  to  us.  She 
went  with  us  to  visit  the  old  chateaus  in  the  coun- 
try, and  nearly  all  of  lier  twelve  sons,  as  she  called 
us,  attended  church  with  her  on  Sunday. 

There  was  a  hospital  connected  with  the  col- 
lege, attended  by  Sisters  of  Charity.  Find  fault 
who  will  with  the  great  church  of  Rome,  Init  dare 
not  to  say  aught  against  these  "angels  of  mercy," 
who  nursed  and  cared  for  the  sick  boys  as  gently, 
as  sweetly  as  their  mothers  and  sisters  could  have 
done. 

A  liappy  year  soon  rolled  by.  We  severed  our 
connection  with  this  institution  with  many  re- 
grets. 

After  a  pleasant  voyage  home  by  the  steamer 
"Florida."  we  reached  Xew  Orleans  in  August, 
1866. 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  67 


CHAPTER  IX, 


Reading'  Law — Teaching  School — Move  to  Texas. 
Belton  as  It  Was. 

My  school  days  now  over,  the  absorbing  ques- 
tion was  how  to  make  a  living.  My  father's  for- 
tune was  gone,  and  I  must  depend  on  my  own  ex- 
ertions. My  lameness  was  no  better,  and  I  was 
forced  to  the  sad  conclusion  that  I  must  carry  the 
crutches  all  my  life.  It  was  hard,  too,  to  give  up 
the  hope  of  a  profession.  After  my  return  from 
France  I  had  entered  the  office  of  Judge  James 
Fuqua,  at  Baton  Eouge,  as  a  law  student.  Soon, 
however,  I  gave  up  my  studies  and  secured  a 
school,  my  father  being  no  longer  able  to  defray 
m}^  expenses. 

During  this  year  I  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Hall,  of  Tensas  Parish.  She  made  me  a  loving, 
gentle,  affectionate  wife  for  ten  years,  then  died 
and  went  to  heaven.  She  left  two  children.  Hall, 
now  an  attorney  at  law,  and  Mary,  now  Mrs. 
Borden. 

Close  application  to  the  schoolroom  so  seriously 
impaired  my  health  that  I  visited  the  Hot  Springs 
in  Arkansas  and  the  Magnetic  Wells  in  ^lichigan. 

Somewhat  improved,  I  returned  to  my  school. 
I  taught  among  a  highly  cultivated  people  in 
Prairie  Mer  Eouge,  La.,  and  they  seemed  to  greatly 


68  Reminiscences  of  an 

appreciate  my  labors.  This  was  more  to  me  than 
my  salary. 

While  thus  engaged  my  half-brothers,  C.  I.  and 
M.  J.,  and  my  sister,  Mrs.  Hall,  moved  to  Texas. 
I  had  long  wanted  to  come  to  Texas,  to  this  great 
growing  State  where  industry  gave  promise  of 
reward,  and  where  faithful  performance  of  duty 
might  expect  promotion.  I  remember  when  as  a 
boy  sitting  on  the  knee  of  my  grandfather  Dough- 
erty, who  sleeps  to-day  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Sabine,  I  loved  to  hear  him  tell  of  the  early  days 
of  Texas.  My  soul  was  stirred  within  me  when 
he  related  how  Houston  fought,  how  Bowie  died, 
and  how  Fannin  was  murdered.  After  a  farewell 
to  my  dear  old  father,  my  kind  stepmother,  my 
brother  Edwin  and  sister  Katie,  I  moved  to  Bel- 
ton,  Texas. 

In  company  with  my  nephew,  W.  E.  Hall,  then 
but  a  boy,  I  went  to  Bremond  and  to  Waco  seek- 
ing employment,  but  finding  none  we  returned  to 
Belton.  Soon  W.  J.  Long,  the  open-handed,  big- 
hearted  sheriff,  gave  my  nephew  employment  in 
his  store  and  office,  thus  affording  the  opportunity, 
which  he  improved,  and  subsequently  became 
sheriff  and  tax  collector  of  Bell  County. 

By  tlie  help  of  my  new  friends  I  secured  a 
school. 

In  my  memory  looms  up — not  Belton,  the  bust- 
ling city  of  to-day,  with  its  oil  mills,  cotton  fac- 
tories, compresses,  artesian  w^ells,  high  schools  and 
colleges  and  fine  churches — but  old  Belton  of  1871. 
It  was  an  old  town  then  for  Texas.     Bold  and  ad- 


Ex-C0XFEDEI?ATE   SOLDIER.  69 

venturous  men  had  years  before  braved  the  in- 
conveniences and  dangers  of  frontier  life,  had  dot- 
ted the  streams  with  homes,  and  started  a  beauti- 
ful town  among  the  liveoaks  on  the  banks  of  the 
Nolan.  Already  from  this  far-off  town  a  com- 
pany of  brave  boys  had  heard  and  answered  their 
country's  call.     Some  never  returned. 

In  business  around  the  old  courthouse  I  found 
H.  C.  Denny,  the  Miller  Bros.,  McQuirter  &  Ven- 
able,  Long  &  Eeese,  Embree  &  Keys,  Batte  &  Han- 
na,  Sam  Eather,  Methvin,  Tobler,  Potts,  Alexan- 
der, and  John  Henry.  At  the  trades  were  Albert- 
son,  Hendrickson,  Erwin  and  Jim  Coop.  At  the 
mill  were  Eeid,  AVliitson  and  Ware.  In  the  old 
Journal  office  were  Davenport  &  Longino.  In  the 
professions  were  Drs.  Hudson,  Mallory,  Kava- 
naugh,  Talley.and  Shrock.  Attorneys,  X.  B.  Saun- 
ders, A.  J.  Harris,  James  Boyd,  W.  S.  Holman, 
Judge  Walker,  N.  C.  Edwards.  J.  P.  Osterhout  was 
district  judge;  W.  J.  Long,  sheriff;  Jim  Leach, 
clerk;  Billy  Blair,  treasurer,  and  Stump  Ashby, 
preacher. 

At  Salado  were  Sterling  Eobertson,  A.  J.  Eose, 
Judge  Tyler  and  Dr.  Barton.  Xorth  and  east  of 
town  Elisha  Embree,  Eamsey  Cox,  David  Eosbor- 
ough,  John  Clark,  A.  M.  Keller,  Silas  Baggett, 
Loss  Williams,  Sam  Hunter,  Jimmv  Moore,  Joe 
Miller,  Ed  Eeed,  Bill  Eeed,  Jeff  Eeed,  the  Mar- 
shall and  Captain  Freeman.  Among  the  patrons 
of  my  school  were  G.  W.  Hefley,  J.  W.  Embree, 
X.  B.  Saunders,  A.  J.  Harris,  Dr.  Shrock  and 
Sam  Eather. 


70  Keminiscexces  of  ax 

I  love  to  recall  the  names  and  faces  of  my  for- 
mer pupils,  some  of  whom  were  Misses  Minnie 
Heflcy,  Fannie  Whitson,  Margie  Shrock,  Ti  Meth- 
vin  and  Carrie  Henry.  Among  m}^  best  boys, 
whom  it  was  a  pleasure  to  teach,  were  Albert  Bent- 
ley,  Jim  Eeid,  Will  Saunders,  Charlie  Batte  and 
Paul  Osterhout.  I  tried  to  be  faithful  and  con- 
scientious in  my  work,  and  my  patrons  expressed 
regret  when  I  left. 

In  1873  Judge  Eichard  Coke,  of  Waco,  was 
elected  Governor.  Hon.  J.  H.  Davenport  asked 
of  George  Clark  a  place  for  a  crippled  Confeder- 
ate soldier  in  one  of  the  departments.  Without 
hesitation  he  said,  "Tell  him  to  meet  me  in  Aus- 
tin in  January."  It  was  the  same  George  Clark, 
afterwards  Secretary  of  State,  Attorney-General 
and  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  and  now  the 
distinguished  jurist  and  statesman  with  few  equals 
and  no  superiors,  who  gave  to  me  the  start  so 
greatly  needed.  God  will  ever  bless  the  man  who 
is  ready  to  reach  out  a  hand  to  struggling  youth. 

I  am  glad  I  came  to  Belton.  I  am  glad  that 
dear  old  Dr.  Hudson  stopped  my  brothers  en 
route  for  San  Saba.  I  can  hear  this  enthusiastic 
friend  of  Belton  telling  them  that  the  Missouri, 
Kansas  &  Texas  would  soon  be  there;  that  the 
^[ethodists  of  Texas  were  going  to  locate  a  great 
universit}',  and  that  Belton  had  every  advantage 
over  Georgetown,  and  would  be  sure  to  win. 

I  was  sorry  to  leave  Belton,  where  I  had  found 
friends  and  employment  and  a  new  lease  of  life; 
when,  broken  in  health  and  in  fortune,  I  had  wan- 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  71 

dered  away  from  the  home  of  my  boyhood  and  my 
mother's  grave. 

In  January,  1874,  I  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the 
Department  of  State. 

I  need  not  repeat  the  story,  so  often  tohl,  of 
Governor  Davis'  refusal  to  surrender  the  execu- 
tive office  because  of  the  "Semicolon  Decision" 
of  the  Supreme  Court;  nor  of  his  unsuccessful 
appeal  to  General  Grant;  nor  of  the  gallant  con- 
duct of  George  B.  Zimpleman  and  the  Travis 
Eifles.  By  coolness,  prudence  and  resolution, 
Governor  Coke  and  the  Fourteenth  Legislature 
took  the  reins  of  the  State  government  after  a 
long  reconstruction  period  of  eight  years. 


72  Remexiscences  of  an 


CHAPTER  X. 


Nine  Years  at  Austin  as  Chief  Clerk  and  Secretary 
of  State. 

On  April  21,  1874,  I  vras  promoted  by  Hon.  A. 
W.  De  Berry,  Secretary  of  State,  to  the  position 
of  chief  clerk  in  his  office.  I  am  proud  that  I 
ever  enjoyed  the  warm  personal  friendship  of 
this  good  man,  whose  heart  was  as  big  as  his  body. 
He  was  as  honest  as  St.  Paul  and  as  clean  as 
Caesar's  wife.  \¥hen  I  suggested  to  him,  as  I 
frequently  did,  that  this  or  that  was  wrong,  he 
would  whirl  around  in  ]]is  great  chair  and  ask, 
"What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it?"  I  would 
perhaps  answer  that  I  didn't  see  that  anything 
could  be  done  about  it.  Then  he  would  say, 
""^Wliat  can't  be  mended  just  let  it  tear." 

Great  fun  was  occasioned  in  the  office  by  the 
visit  of  the  first  female  lawyer  that  ever  came  to 
Texas.  She  called  upon  the  Secretary  of  State, 
and  after  chatting  pleasantly  and  in  a  very  gen- 
tlemanly way,  she  asked  Colonel  De  Berry  to  show 
her  over  the  Capitol  and  the  Supreme  Court 
building.  This,  of  course,  he  did.  When  she 
left  she  laid  her  card  as  attorney  at  law,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  on  the  secretary's  desk.  This  card 
every  morning  I  set  up  in  a  conspicuous  place  on 
the  back  of  tlie  inkstand  which  he  quietly  removed 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  73 

when  he  came  in.  One  morning  he  snatched  the 
card,  tore  it  in  pieces,  and  called  to  Hugh  Lewis, 
a  fun-loving  boy  from  Washington  County.  "Mr. 
Lewis,^^  said  he,  "I  have  borne  this  thing  long 
enough.  If  you  must  set  up  cards  on  my  desk, 
let  it  be  those  of  he  lawyers.  Do  you  understand 
me?"  Lewis  stuttered  and  retired  to  his  desk  in 
confusion.  It  was  quite  awhile  before  I  dared 
confess  to  the  act. 

For  seven  years  I  retained  my  position.  I 
worked  for  promotion  as  did  Jacob  for  Rachael. 
When  the  biennial  elections  came  I  was  not  with- 
out the  trepidation  experienced  by  all  the  State 
employes.  I  remained,  hoAvever,  but  by  no  means 
solely  because  I  was  faithful  and  competent.  I. 
was  so  fortunate  as  to  have  the  Bell  County 
Democracy  at  my  back.  Every  two  years  they 
passed  resolutions  indorsing  me.  To  Joe  Miller 
and  other  friends  I  was  indel)ted  for  the  great 
compliment,  but  more  especially  to  George  C. 
Pendleton,  the  advance  guard  of  civilization  in 
that  county.  He  was  a  farmer  and  sold  plows  to 
his  neighbors;  and  did  not  the  '^Old  Alcalde"  say 
that  "civilization  begins  and  ends  with  the  plow  ?" 

Mr.  Pendleton  still  lives  respected  and  hon- 
ored by  all  the  people.  He  filled  with  great 
credit  to  himself  the  positions  of  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  Lieutenant-Governor 
and  Congressman. 

Governor  Coke's  administration  was  distin- 
guished as  follows:  He  restored  public  confi- 
dence, thus  allowing  the  people  to  settle  down  to 


74  Remixlscexces  of  ax 

their  various  avocations,  assured  that  the  State 
government  was  in  safe  and  friendly  hands.  He 
re-established  the  ruined  credit  of  the  State.  He 
recovered  through  Hon.  D.  C.  Giddings  a  large 
sum  of  money,  long  due  to  Texas,  from  parties  in 
Europe.  He  settled  the  International  Railroad 
bond  question.  He  defended  our  frontier  against 
Indians  and  desperadoes  through  the  intrepid 
John  B.  Jones  and  his  gallant  frontier  battalion. 

Richard  Coke  was  a  man  who  never  left  any- 
one to  doubt  where  he  stood.  It  is  said  that  when 
Jack  Hamilton,  scarce  of  material  in  his  own 
party,  offered  Coke  a  judgeship,  he  said :  "Gov- 
ernor, at  the  instance  of  my  friends  and  for  the 
good  of  the  people,  I  accept  the  position,  with 
the  perfect  understanding  that  I  am  an  ex-Con- 
federate and  a  Democrat." 

As  a  speaker  he  was  heavy,  as  a  thinker  he 
was  slow,  but  his  conclusions  when  reached  were 
almost  infallible.  AMien  he  came  down  with  his 
sledge-hammer  blows,  and  said,  "7f  is  so/'  it  was 
very  apt  to  l^e  so.  More  than  once  I  was  a  guest 
at  his  home  in  Waco.  Just  before  his  death  I 
visited  him  and  felt  from  his  looks  and  speech 
that  the  great  ex-Governor  and  ex-United  States 
Senator  was  near  to  the  end  of  a  great  career.  I 
am  told  that  it  was  amid  the  awful  thunders  and 
terrific  lightnings  of  a  storm  at  night  that  Rich- 
ard Coke  was  summoned  to  meet  his  God. 

AATien  Governor  Coke,  after  his  second  election, 
Mas  chosen  by  tlie  Legislature  to  represent  Texas 
in  the  United    States   Senate,   Lieutenant-Gover- 


EX-CONFEDEKATE   SOLDIER.  75 

nor  E.  B.  Hubbard  succeeded  to  the  executive  of- 
fice. The  large  ex-minister  to  Japan  was  an  ele- 
gant gentleman,  a  scholarly  man,  and  one  of  the 
finest  orators  of  the  South.  In  1876,  at  the  Cen- 
tennial in  Philadelphia,  he  made  a  great  speech 
which  sent  his  name  and  fame  all  over  the  con- 
tinent. 

Stephen  H.  Darden  was  Comptroller,  a  fine 
business  man,  and  up  to  his  fourscore  years  of  life 
was  as  true  to""  Texas  as  when  he  fought  for  her 
emancipation  in  1836. 

Andrew  Jackson  Dorn  was  State  Treasurer,  a 
knightly  old  gentleman  who  won  his  spurs  in  the 
war  with  Mexico,  who  "\\'as  a  gallant  Confederate 
soldier.  That  he  Avas  succeeded  at  the  end  of  one 
term,  was  not  because  the  Democracy  of  Texas 
loved  Dorn  less,  but  Frank  Lubbock  more. 

Of  ex-Governor  Lubbock,  the  bold  champion  of 
what  he  believed  to  be  right,  the  faithful  and 
fearless  official,  nothing  can  be  said  which  has  not 
already  been  said.  He  served  Texas  long  and 
well.  He  served  the  South  gallantly,  and  went 
like  a  hero  to  prison  with  Jefferson  Davis.  Long 
may  the  grand  old  man  linger  upon  the  shores  of 
time. 

L^pon  the  supreme  bench  were  the  learned  and 
just  George  Moore,  0.  M.  Koberts,  ^I.  H.  Bonner, 
Tom  Brown  and  T.  J.  Devine. 

L^pon  the  Court  of  Appeals,  the  safe,  sound, 
upright  J.  C.  White;  Jim  Hurt,  the  brainy  law- 
yer, the  gallant  Ector  and   C.   M.   Winkler,    the 


76  Eeminiscexces  of  ax 

honest  judge,  the  heroic  ex-colonel  in  Hood's  im- 
mortal brigade. 

In  the  Department  of  Education  was  0.  X. 
Hollingsworth,  a  competent  official,  a  good  man, 
a  true  friend ;  just  such  a  man  as  would  suffer  for 
the  act  of  another  and  make  no  sign. 

In  the  several  departments  were  many  true  and 
tried  men.  Among  them  I  recall  Ed  Duggan,  Al- 
ston Duggan,  Ehodes  Fisher,  Val  Giles,  John  I. 
Calloway,  Eobert  Josselyn,  X.  B.  De  Bray,  Billy 
Pitts  and  W.  D.  Moore.  Conspicuous  among 
them  W.  B.  Wortham,  John  D.  McCall  and  W.  C. 
Walsh,  who  each  won  his  way  by  long  and  faith- 
ful service  to  the  head  of  his  department. 

Our  representatives  in  Senate  and  House  at 
Washington  during  these  years  were  commonly  re- 
puted to  be  the  ablest  of  any  State  in  the  Union. 
In  the  Senate  were  Eichard  Coke  and  S.  B. 
Maxey.  In  the  House  of  Eepresentatives  were 
John  Hancock,  J.  W.  Throckmorton,  John  H. 
-Eeagan^  Eoger  Q.  Mills,  D.  C.  Giddings,  Sam 
Lanham  and  David  B.  Culberson — lintellectual 
giants  all. 

To  Dave  Culberson,  the  great  constitutional 
lawyer,  belongs  the  singular  distinction,  among 
the  great  public  men  of  Texas,  of  having  a  son 
who  has  worthily  climbed  higher  than  his  father. 

Of  the  great  Eeagan  I  must  express  the  pride 
I  feel  that  I  have  enjoyed  his  personal  friendship ; 
that  he  has  sat  at  my  table  and  slept  under  my 
roof.     Many  years  since  at  a  Democratic  conven- 


Ex-Confederate  Soldiek.  77 

tion  in  Dallas  I  introduced  a  resolution  which  was 
adopted  amid  the  wildest  cheers.     It  read : 

"Eesolved  by  the  Democrats  of  Texas,  in  con- 
vention assembled,  that  John  H.  Eeagan  enjoys 
our  undying  love  and  confidence;  and  we  pray 
that  he  may  live  to  the  century  mark,  and  then 
pass  over  the  river  and  sit  down  under  the  shade 
of  the  trees,  by  the  side  of  Jefferson  Davis,  at  the 
feet  of  the  Savior  of  'Men." 

Governor  Hubbard  had  no  session  of  the  Leg- 
islature during  his  term  of  office;  he  merely  con- 
tinued the  policies  of  his  predecessor.  At  the 
close  of  his  term  was  precipitated  the  hottest  cam- 
paign almost  ever  seen  in  the  State.  J.  W. 
Throckmorton,  whom  all  Texas  loved,  was  a  can- 
didate against  Governor  Hubbard  for  the  Demo- 
cratic nomination.  He  had  been  elected  Gover- 
nor in  1866  and  ruthlessly  displaced  by  the  Fed- 
eral bayonet.  Many  Democrats  resolved,  I  might 
say  sw^ore,  that  later  he  should  by  their  votes  be 
put  back  into  the  executive  office.  At  the  con- 
vention in  Austin  the  political  fight  was  long  and 
bitter,  but  resulted  in  the  withdrawal  of  both  of 
these  gentlemen  and  the  unanimous  nomination 
of  Chief  Justice  0.  M.  Roberts. 

I  continued  in  my  place  under  I.  G.  Searcy 
and  John  D.  Templeton,  both  elegant  gentlemen 
and  able  officials,  until  Governor  Eoberts'  second 
election,  when  I  was  appointed  Secretarv  of 
State. 

Oran  M.  Roberts^  opinions,  which,  as  he  used  to 
say,  were  "based  on  common  sense,^^  were  recog- 


78  Eemixiscexces  of  ax 

nized  as  good  law  from  Maine  to  California.  The 
ke3TLot9  of  his  administration  was  "pay  as  you  go/' 

Governor  Eoherts,  as  plain  as  the  plainest 
farmer,  was  as  honest  as  God's  sunshine.  He 
never  yielded  his  convictions  of  right  nor  tran- 
scended by  a  hair's  breadth  his  authority.  To  il- 
lustrate this  statement  I  refer  to  his  famous 
speech  to  Judge  Terrell  or  Colonel  Peeler,  who 
tried  to  win  him  from  a  certain  position  by  tell- 
ing him  if  he  persisted  that  Texas  would  go  to 
h — ,  to  which  he  quietly  answered,  "If  Texas  must 
go  to  that  place,  she  must  go  there  according  to 
law." 

In  Xovember  succeeding  his  inauguration  it 
was  rumored  that  he  would  not  issue  the  custom - 
ar}^  Thanksgiving  proclamation.  x\  delegation  of 
able  ministers,  resident  pastors  of  the  several 
churches  in  Austin,  waited  on  the  old  Governor 
to  remonstrate  with  him.  He  assured  them  that 
injustice  had  been  done  him  in  the  report  that  he 
was  an  infidel,  and  proceeded  to  talk  learnedly  and 
beautifully  of  the  Savior  of  Men.  He  said :  "Let 
the  constituted  authorities  of  your  several  churches 
appoint  a  day  of  thanksgiving  and  I  will  go  with 
the  old  woman  to  church.  But  for  me,  a  State 
officer,  to  even  suggest  an^-'hing  to  church  officials 
about  when  and  where  to  worship,  I  will  not."  He 
then  in  strong  and  earnest  language  reminded 
these  preachers  of  the  strife  and  bloodshed  which 
had  cursed  the  world  under  a  union  of  church 
and  state. 

The  honest  old  Governor  was  again  to  be  tried. 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  70 

After  President  Garfield  was  shot,  the  Governor  of 
Ohio  sent  to  Governor  Roberts  of  Texas,  as  he  did 
to  all  other  governors  of  States,  a  request  for  a 
proclamation  appointing  a  day  and  calling  upon 
the  people  to  pray  for  the  President's  recovery. 
When  Governor  Roberts  had  read  the  communi- 
cation he  brought  it  to  my  office,  told  me  what  it 
was,  and  started  out  after  handing  it  to  me.  I 
said,  "Governor,  what  do  you  wish  to  do  or  have 
done?"  He  answered,  "Xothing,  I  have  nothing 
in  the  world  to  do  with  it."  Upon  the  suggestion 
of  prominent  friends  I  sent  over  my  official  sig- 
nature to  James  G.  Blaine,  Secretary  of  State,  the 
following  telegram:  "The  people  of  Texas  are 
grieved  at  the  attempt  upon  the  life  of  Mr.  Gar- 
field. An  assault  upon  the  President  is  an  assault 
upon  constitutional  government.  We  pray  for  his 
recovery." 

While  I  was  in  office  the  old  Capitol  burned. 
A  new  clerk  in  one  of  the  offices,  mistaking  a  hole 
through  a  partition  wall  for  a  flue,  put  up  a  stove, 
run  his  pipe  into  a  room  filled  with  session  acts, 
department  reports,  court  reports,  etc.  The  em- 
ployes of  the  Capitol  were  nearly  all  out  to  din- 
ner. The  alarm  of  fire,  made  after  some  delay, 
brought  the  fire  department,  but  vain  were  their 
efforts  to  save  the  building.  The  clerks,  from  all 
the  departments,  with  the  aid  of  citizens,  succeeded 
after  hard  and  dangerous  work  in  saving  the  rec- 
ords -and  papers  of  the  various  offices.  The  old 
building,  within  whose  halls  had  rung  the  voices 
of  our    ablest  and   best,    w^as    a    blackened    ruin. 


80  Eemixiscexces  of  an 

Travis  County  generously  gave  free  offices  to  the 
Governor  and  Secretary  of  State  for  the  remainder 
of  the  term. 

Steps  were  immediately  taken  for  the  erection 
of  a  temporary  Capitol.  Then  it  was  that  Gov- 
ernor Eoherts  conceived  the  idea  of  the  great  gran- 
ite structure  ^\'hich  might  be  erected  and  paid  for 
in  lands  which  were  on  the  market  at  fifty  cents 
per  acre  and  being  given  away  as  a  bonus  to  rail- 
roads. That  it  was  carried  out  successfully  and 
grandly  by  Governor  Koberts'  successors  we  all  are 
proud,  but  the  fact  remains  that  great  credit  is 
due  to  this  distinguished  East  Texas  statesman, 
the  like  to  whom  we  will  never  see. 

Governor  Eoherts  was  ably  seconded  in  his  pub- 
lic policies  by  Lieutenant-Governor  L.  J.  Story, 
the  honest  old  Georgian  who  for  many  years  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Eailroad  Commission,  and 
now  its  able  chairman. 

Austin  Avas  smaller  then  than  now.  There  was 
no  dam  on  the  river,  no  electric  lights,  no  long 
lines  of  street  railway.  The  campus  of  the  State 
University,  so  wisely  reserved  by  the  fathers,  w^as 
a  mesquite  thicket — a  place  of  refuge  for  every 
poor  horse,  cow  or  goat  that  had  no  friends  and 
no  home. 

For  the  information  of  my  young  readers  I 
give  the  vote  for  the  location  of  the  University — 
this  great  institution  which  is  doing  a  grand  work 
under  the  leadership  of  a  man  who  learned  at  the 
feet  of  E.  E.  Lee:     Austin  received  30,913  votes; 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  81 

Tyler,  18,974;  Waco,  9799;  Thorpe  Springs,  3217; 
Lampasas,  2829. 

For  medical  department  of  the  University,  Gal- 
veston received  29,741  votes;  Houston,  12,586. 

The  old  residents  of  Austin  of  thirty  and  more 
years  ago  whose  names  come  rushing  to  mind, 
were  George  Hancock,  C.  B.  Johns,  J.  H.  Pope, 
J.  H.  Eaymond,  Jim  Smith,  W.  A.  Hamilton, 
Frank  Brown,  Taylor  Moore,  D.  W.  Doom.  Z.  T. 
Fulmore,  T.  B.  Wheeler,  A.  W.  Terrell,  Dr. 
Brackenridge,  Wm.  Von  Eosenberg,  Eugene  Bre- 
mond,  John  Card  well,  W.  B.  Smith,  0.  Archer, 
John  D.  Elliot,  Dr.  Taylor,  Dr.  McLaughlin,  Dr. 
Haynie,  John.  Tibaut,  Josiah  Whipple  and  George 
Walling.  W.  M.  Walton,  too,  I  remember,  and 
here  relate  an  incident  to  his  credit.  Buck  Wal- 
ton, like  Throckmorton,  had  been  deposed  by  the 
bayonet.  His  many  friends  determined  to  re-elect 
him  Attorney-General.  When  the  convention  came 
on  he  had  a  very  large  following  and  his  nomina- 
tion seemed  assured,  but  when  he  saw  Hon.  H.  H. 
Boone,  his  opponent,  whose  arm  was  buried  on 
the  battlefield,  whose  other  hand  was  maimed, 
walk  out  on  the  platform,  Major  Walton,  grander 
than  the  leader  of  an  army  in  battle,  said  to  his 
hosts,  "I  withdraw.     Vote  for  H.  H.  Boone.'' 

In  1881  I  married  Miss  Mollie  Tibaut,  of  Aus- 
tin. Colonel  Brown,  Comptroller;  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Story  and  wife,  myself  and  wife,  had  a 
delightful  trip  as  representatives  of  Texas  to  the 
Cotton  Exposition  in  Atlanta,  Ga.  There  we  met 
Reminiscences — 6. 


82  Reminiscences  of  an 

Henry  W.  Grady,  the  statesman,  the  philosopher, 
the  silver-tongued  Georgian. 

My  duties  as  a  member  of  the  Printing  Board 
took  me  several  times  to  Galveston  and  St.  Louis. 
My  position  on  the  State  Board  of  Education  gave 
me  official  connection  with  the  State  Normal 
school  at  Huntsville,  which  I  had  the  pleasure 
once  to  visit.  These  were  pleasant  recreations 
after  years  spent  at  the  desk. 

When  Hon.  John  Ireland  succeeded  to  the  execu- 
tive office  I  made  no  application  to  remain  longer, 
but  moved  back  to  Belton  after  an  absence  of  nine 
years. 


Ex-Confederate  Soldi kii.  83 


CHAPTER  XI. 


Life    on    Sheep    Ranch    in    the    West — Elected 
County  Attorney — County  Judge — Can- 
didate for  Confess — Lectur- 
ing, etc. 

Having  been  raised  in  the  eoimtry,  I  have  al- 
ways preferred  to  live  close  to  nature,  "for  nature 
neA^er  did  betray  the  heart  that  loved  lier;  she  im- 
presses with  quietness  and  beauty^  and  feeds  with 
loft}^  thoughts/'  It  was  always  a  great  pleasure 
to  sit  beneath  the  shade  of  some  great  forest  tree, 
far  from  human  habitations,  and  feel  as  free  from 
restraint  as  the  l)irds  in  the  branches  overhead. 
I  can  enter  into  the  sentiment  of  him  who  said, 
"Man  made  the  towns  but  God  made  the  country." 
A^Tiile  not  blind  to  the  many  beauties  of  art  crea- 
tion found  in  towns  and  cities,  nor  forgetful  of 
the  many  advantages  attaching  to  city  life,  I  like 
better  the  freedom  of  mind  and  body  found  on 
the  fresh  green  fields  and  by  the  sparkling  brooks, 
far  removed  from  the  jostling  crowd.  Thirteen 
years  of  close  confinement  in  the  school  room  and 
at  the  desk  necessitated  a  change.  I  was  free 
now  to  follow  my  inclinations,  and  they  were  de- 
cidedly to  go  west  and  start  a  sheep  rancli. 

When  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad  had  completed  its 
western  branch  I  went  with  a  flock  of  sheep  to 
Eunnels  County,  wliere  I  purchased  a  thousand 
acres  of  land.     It  is  hard  to  express  how  like  a 


84  Reminiscences  of  an 

boy  oat  of  school  I  felt.  My  location  was  in  a 
beautiful  valley  extending  from  Bluff  Creek  on 
the  east  to  Cayote  Creek  on  the  west.  Eight  miles 
south  was  the  site  of  the  old  town  of  Runnels. 
Its  inhabitants,  some  two  or  three  hundred,  had 
literally  rolled  their  houses  and  all  their  belong- 
ings to  the  new  town  of  Ballinger.  Runnels  now 
had  nothing  left  but  rock  chimneys  and  under- 
ground cisterns.  I  forget;  yes,  Magee,  the  black- 
smith, and  Nunn,  the  postmaster,  remained.  Ma- 
gee had  no  money,  and  Nunn  had  to  await  orders 
from  Washington,  or  they,  too,  would  have  gone 
off  with  railroad  fever. 

The  September  rains  had  come,  and  in  the  west 
the  earth  responds  to  moisture  more  quickly  in 
the  fall  than  in  spring.  The  weather  was  just 
perfect  and  the  sunshine  just  warm  enough.  The 
breezes,  mild  and  gentle  as  they  came  from  the 
gulf,  were  laden  with  health  and  cheer.  The 
green,  grassy  prairies  were  covered  with  curlew, 
plover,  blue  quail,  doves,  prairie  dogs  and  badger, 
with  occasionally  a  pack  of  wolves  and  a  herd  of 
antelope. 

It  was  in  this  paradise  I  found  a  new  abode. 
I  wanted  no  news  from  the  outside  world  and  was 
not  sorry  when  the  mail  failed  to  arrive.  ISTo 
wonder,  then,  the  pale  cheeks  grew  ruddy  and  the 
squeamish  appetite  became  hearty.  We  had  our 
land  fenced,  a  comfortable  ranch  house  built,  then 
busied  ourselves  about  sheep-sheds,  wind-breaks, 
chicken-houses,  pig-pens,  etc.  The  herder  turned 
out  the  sheep  at  sunrise,  and  taking  with  him  a 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  85 

noon  lunch,  was  off  on  the  prairies  for  all  day. 
After  the  sheep  were  gone,  then  with  my  wife  I 
went  hunting  or  fishing,  and  rare  sport  we  had. 
In  the  evening  late  I  went  out  to  help  bring  in 
the  flock  and  see  that  all  were  penned  and  the 
other  stock  fed.  Thus  day  by  day  we  passed  the 
happy  time  away. 

Were  there  no  neighbors?  the  reader  imagines. 
Yes,  and  in  the  near  future  too  many.  Within  a 
few  years  certain  crops  of  grass  were  plowed  up 
for  uncertain  crops  of  corn,  cotton,  wheat  and  oats 
by  a  hundred  or  more  settlers  in  the  neighborhood  . 

The  sheep  business  pays  when  managed  with 
great  care,  but  will  involve  the  owner  in  great 
loss  with  very  slight  mismanagement.  A  strict 
watch  against  wolves,  which  are  numerous  in  the 
west,  must  be  kept  during  the  day,  and  a  lantern 
kept  burning  at  the  pen  at  night. 

Lambing  time,  with  the  profits  of  a  year  in  the 
balance,  is  most  important.  Extra  hands  and 
close  watchfulness  day  and  night  are  necessary. 
The  fine-bred  sheep  have  a  greater  disposition  to 
disown  their  young  than  any  other  animal. 
Shearing  needs  to  be  done  with  care  to  get  all  the 
fleece  without  cutting  the  sheep.  The  wool  must 
be  neatly  tied  and  carefully  packed  to  insure  a 
good  market.  Sheep-herding  is  a  lonely  life,  and 
emphasizes  the  fact  that  man  needs  the  compan- 
ionship of  his  fellows.  Two  little  incidents  I  re- 
late: 

A  North  Carolina  boy  was  at  work  for  me; 
Tom^s  camp  was  about  seven  miles  away.     I  went 


86  Reminiscences  of  an 

once  a  week  to  carry  his  supplies.  He  seldom  saw 
or  spoke  to  a  human  being.  One  clay  he  wrote  me 
a  note  by  a  passing  cowboy^  saying,  "If  you  are 
n6t  here  by  noon  to-morrow  I  will  turn  the  sheep 
loose.^\  I  divined  the  trouble.  Poor  Tom,  wlio 
was  my  friend  and  who  had  served  me  faithfully 
for  two  years,  had  lost  his  mind.  When  I  went 
out  with  a  ^lexican  to  relieve  him  he  looked  as  if 
he  would  run  from  me,  but  I  persuaded  him  to  go 
home  with  me.  He  played  with  the  children  like 
a  child,  and  in  a  short  while  recovered.  I  had  a 
letter  a  year  or  two  later  from  him  at  his  home. 
He  said  :  "I  want  to  come  back  to  Texas.  There 
are  too  many  people  here.  The  justice  court  is 
busy  every  Saturday  trying  the  boys  for  what  we 
call  nothing  in  Texas, — taking  a  few  watermelons 
and  laughing  a  little  with  the  girls  in  church.^' 

i\rr.  Meyers  also  got  tired  and  lonely  in  the 
camp,  but  the  old  German  proceeded  differently. 
He  asked  me  to  come  and  herd  one  day  for.  him 
and  loan  him  a  horse  to  go  to  town.  Of  course 
I  did  so.  I  stayed  four  or  five  days  and  nights 
in  the  camp.  When  I  heard  from  him  he  had  left 
the  horse  at  the  wagon-yard  with  instructions  if 
anything  happened  to  him  to  send  it  to  me,  then 
went  on  a  big  drunk. 

There  are  good  people  everywhere,  and  my 
brother  and  I  found  them  on  the  western  prairies. 
Duke,  Herron,  Scott,  Vancil,  James  and  Rather, 
and  families,  united  with  us  to  form  almost  a 
model  community.  A  schoolhouse  was  soon  erected 
and    a   school   in   operation.     Xext    ministers    of 


Ex-CoNrp:DERATE  Soldier.  87 

the  dili'erent  cluirches  were  invited  and  came  to 
preach  at  "Bownnan's  Chapel."  When  protracted 
meetings  and  school  picnics  were  held,  from  far 
and  near  the  people  came  and  each  family  brought 
a  basket  overtlowing  with  substantials  and  good 
things  for  dinner  on  the  ground.  In  the  West 
the  neighborly  feeling,  akin  to  that  of  which  the 
Master  talked  in  the  parable  of  the  Good  Samari- 
tan, is  very  strong. 

My  house  and  contents  were  entirely  destroyed 
by  fire.  Every  house  in  the  community  was 
opened  to  my  family.  These  good  people,  whom 
I  love  to  remember,  said,  "Buy  your  lumber;  we 
.will  do  the  rest."  They  hauled  the  material  out 
and  bviilt  me  a  better  house  than  I  lost,  and  to 
have  oifered  them  pay  would  have  been  to  offend 
them. 

When  the  "man  with  the  hoe"  came,  lands  ad- 
vanced, and  nearly  all  of  our  friends,  feeling  the 
time  to  go  further  west  had  come,  sold  out.  I 
moved  with  my  flocks  to  Howard  County,  regret- 
ting to  leave  a  good  people  and  the  prettiest  coun* 
try  in  the  west. 

Ballinger  is  a  nice  county  seat  town,  a  fine  trad- 
ing point  and  adorned  with  schoolhouses,  churches 
and  all  that  marks  a  refined  people.  I  must 
mention  that  in  that  little  city  lives  a  worthy  son 
of  old  Judge  Guion,  of  Mississippi,  a  law  partner 
of  the  great  S.  S.  Prentiss. 

A  good  location  for  my  ranch  was  found  eight 
miles  south  of  Big  Springs,  on  Elbow  Creek. 
Three   sections   of   school   land   were   filed  on,    a 


88  ,    Reminiscences  of  an 

house  built  and  a  well  drilled.  My  son  Hall  took 
charge,  but  instead  of  pursuing  the  practice  of 
sheepowners  farther  east,  he  fell  into  the  ways  of 
sheepmen  in  that  part  of  the  West;  that  is,  with 
wagon  and  team  and  Mexican  herder  to  start 
out,  camping  wherever  night  overtook  them. 
There  was  at  that  time  a  great  deal  of  open  coun- 
try. All  the  Pecos  country,  extending  up  some 
distance  into  New  Mexico,  was  his  range. 

My  family,  consisting  of  my  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren, Tibaut,  Thornton,  Carrie  and  Annabird, 
went  overland  in  hack  to  Colorado  City,  thence  by 
rail  to  their  new  home. 

Big  Springs,  a  busy  hive  of  industry,  is  situ-, 
ated  in  a  draw  which  evidently,  is  the  bed  of  a 
river  which  some  time  in  the  centuries  past  had 
conveyed  the  water  from  the  foot  of  the  plains  a 
few  miles  west  into  the  Colorado  Eiver  on  the 
east.  The  track  of  the  Texas  &  Pacific  runs  up 
this  canyon,  and  is  at  times  submerged  by  heavy 
rains.  Stockmen  and  railroaders  constituted 
nearly  the  entire  population.  The  shops  for  the 
long  line  of  road  to  El  Paso  are  situated  here. 
There  are  no  drones,  no  tramps.  The  people  eat 
the  bread  of  honest  toil  with  thanksgiving.  The 
railroad  people  live  in  their  own  vine-covered  cot- 
tages, whose  little  yards  are  things  of  beauty,  and 
are  redolent  with  the  perfume  of  flowers.  The 
sunburned  ranchmen  occupy  more  pretentious 
houses.  The  reckless  cowboy  and  the  Mexican 
herder  are  also  to  be  found  in  this  busy  little  city 
of  the  West, — but  all    dwell    together  in  peace. 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  89 

Fifteen  hundred  people  without  a  municipal  in- 
corporation shows  that  they  were  a  law-abiding 
people.  It  is,  too,  a  healthful  town;  the  breezes 
cooling  the  burning  brows  in  summer  is  no  more 
a  friendly  one  than  is  the  rushing  "norther"  which 
gives  tone  and  vigor  to  the  system  and  drives 
poisonous  malaria  back  towards  the  sea.  It  seems 
hardly  necessary  to  say  that  these  people  had 
schools  and  churches.  I  made  my  home  in  West 
Texas,  in  this  town  and  among  this  people  for 
quite  a  number  of  years.  The  man  with  the  plow 
and  the  hoe  had  not  arrived,  and  yet  civilization 
had  preceded  him.  The  ranchman  with  his  herds 
and  flocks  had  come  from  off  the  broad  prairies. 
The  agents  and  employes  of  the  Texas  &  Pacific, 
following  the  iron  bands  laid  by  Tom  Scott's 
genius,  had  come  from  the  east,  and  here  we  met 
and  harmonized. 

I  was  twice  elected  county  judge  and  one  time 
county  attorney  of  Howard  County,  with  Glass- 
cock and  Dawson  counties  attached.  The  sheriff, 
John  Birdwell,  was  vigilant.  A.  C.  Walker, 
county  clerk,  was  competent  and  faithful.  The 
county  treasurer  was  Dr.  J.  W.  Barnett,  an  intel- 
ligent gentleman,  a  fine  physician,  a  zealous  popu- 
list. He  will  be  greatly  missed.  The  county 
commissioners  were  Messrs.  Frost  and  Cosby,  Dan 
Painter  and  G.  W.  Hysaw,  and  they  formed  a 
court  of  which  any  county  would  have  been  proud. 
So  harmoniously  did  they  transact  the  business 
that  there  was  never  a  tie  vote  in  four  years,  con- 
sequently the  county  judge  never  cast  a  vote. 


90  Reminiscences  of  ax 

Our  administration  did  some  good  which  will 
abide.  We  improved  the  courthouse  property,  did 
considerable  work  on  the  streets  and  roads,  were 
largely  instrumental  in  having  a  fine  system  of 
waterworks  built,  and  bought  up  all  outstanding 
bonds  of  the  county  with  the  proceeds  of  the 
county  school  lands,  thus  leaving  the  county  ow- 
ing no  debt  except  to  the  children  of  the  county. 
As  ex  officio  superintendent  I  gave  to  the  school  in- 
terests my  best  attention.  As  trial  judge  I  held 
the  scales  of  justice  as  evenly  balanced  as  I  could, 
knowing  neither  friend  nor  foe.  Messrs.  Cowan, 
Douthitt  and  Littler  extended  to  me,  as  attorneys 
practicing  in  my  court,  every  courtesy  and  kind- 
ness. 8.  H.  jMorrison,  attorney  at  law,  will  ever 
be  remembered  for  his  valuable  advice  and  as- 
sistance cheerfully  rendered  at  all  times.  He  was 
my  friend  whether  I  ruled  for  or  against  him. 

When  my  second  term  was  nearing  its  close 
Howard  County  Democrats  paid  me  the  high  com- 
pliment to  indorse  me  for  Congress,  as  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  attest: 

"To  the  Detnocrats  of  the  Thirteenth  District: 

"The  following  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted  by  the  county  convention  of  Howard 
County  on  April  18,  189G : 

"  ^Resolved,  that  we,  the  united  Democracy,  in 
convention  asscml)led,  recognizing  the  intelligence, 
statesmanship,  purity  of  character,  lionorable  offi- 
cial record  and  unswerving  Democracy  of  our  fel- 
low-townsman,  Hon.   T.   H.   Bowman,    commend 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  lU 

liim  to  the  Democrats  of  this  district  as  one  wortliy 
of  their  confidence  and  support. 

"  'That  our  delegates  are  instructed  to  vote  for 
his  nomination  for  Congress  and  use  all  honorable 
means  to  secure  it.^ 

"We,  the  undersigned,  take  pleasure  in  stating 
that  our  adjoining  and  neighboring  counties  of 
Borden,  Dawson,  Mitchell,  Xolan,  Callahan  and 
others  have  passed  similar  resolutions  of  indorse- 
ment and  instructions  for  Judge  Bowman.  We 
ask  vour  co-operation. 

"S.    H.    MORRISOX, 

"J.  C.  Smith, 
"R.  K.  Maniox, 
''J.  L.  At  WOOD, 
^'C.  W.  Willis,' 
"Democratic    Executive    Committee    of    Howard 
Countj^ 

"Attest:  C.  N.  Harris,  Secretary  County  Con- 
vention. 

"Big  Springs,  Texas,  June  29,  1896.'^ 

This  action  of  my  friends  and  neighbors  was  a 
matter  of  great  pride  to  me,  to  see  that  they  wlio 
knew  me  best  thought  me  worthy  to  represent  this 
great  and  rich  district  in  the  Xational  House  of 
Representatives.  A  district  rich  in  cattle,  horses 
and  sheep ;  rich  in  minerals  and  rich  in  lands ; 
rich,  too,  in  the  character  of  her  people  (for  only 
the  brave  and  enterprising  go  west)  ;  rich  in  her 
sons  and  daughters ;  rich  in  a  heritage  of  valor 
left    bv    Bavlor,    Jones,    Ford    and    the   :\rcCul- 


92  Eeminiscences  of  an 

loughs,  and  others  who  fought  and  died  in  "this 
nursery  of  heroes/' 

I  made  speeches  in  a  few  counties  and  pledged 
to  the  people  that  my  work  for  them  if  elected 
would  be  to  the  full  limit  of  my  phj^sical  and  men- 
tal strength.  My  opponents  were  Hon.  J.  H. 
Stephens  of  Vernon,  Hon.  J.  H.  Calhoun  of  East- 
land, Hon.  Juan  Hart  of  El  Paso,  and  Hon.  W. 
B.  Plemmons  of  Amarillo.'  The  convention  was 
held  at  Henrietta.  I  was  placed  in  nomination  by 
my  friend  Ellis  Douthitt,  a  brilliant  young  dis- 
trict attorney,  in  language  as  follows : 

"I  have  to-day,  gentlemen,  the  honor  of  placing 
in  nomination  before  this  convention  Howard 
County's  candidate  for  Congress — T.  H.  Bowman. 
Words  of  mine  are  feeble  to  express  my  admira- 
tion and  esteem  for  him  as  a  Democrat  and  as  a 
man.  I  have  nothing  to  say  against  any  gentle- 
man before  this  convention;  they  are  good  men 
and  true,  and  Democrats  to  the  core;  but  T.  H. 
Bowman  is  the  peer  of  any  Democrat,  of  any  man. 
He  is  a  man  who  has  been  tried  and  never  found 
wanting.  Educated  in  an  Alabama  university,  he 
is  a  scholar.  When  the  great  struggle  between  the 
States  broke  out,  a  Southern  boy  of  seventeen  with 
a  loyal  Southern  heart,  he  espoused  the  cause  of 
his  native  State,  Louisiana,  and  of  the  South,  and 
went  to  fight  for  what  he  and  his  people  thought 
was  right.  He  returned  with  hopes  almost  crushed, 
fortune  gone,  and  a  cripple  for  life,  and  with 
thousands  of  other  Southern  heroes  began  again  on 
the  ashes  of  the  past  the  struggle  for  the  future, 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  93 

and  for  an  existence.  How  nobly  and  how  well 
they  have  fought!  The  bitter  war  and  its  bitter 
recollections  are  fast  becoming  history  and  slowly 
fading  from  hearts  united  under  a  common  flag, 
but  the  South  will  never — no,  never! — turn  the 
back  of  her  hand  to  those  men.  They  were  her  he- 
roes in  war;  they  are  her  pride, in  peace.  Judge 
Bowman  has  resided  in  Texas  for  nearly  thirty 
years.  He  loves  the  Lone  Star's  history,  and  is 
identified  with  her  great  interests.  He  served  the 
State  under  Coke  and  Hubbard,  and  was  Secretary 
of  State  under  Governor  Roberts,  and  for  the  past 
four  years  has  been  county  judge  of  Howard  Coun- 
ty. His  official  record  has. been  marked  by  emi- 
nent ability,  the  strictest  integrity,  and  loyalty  to 
every  trust.  With  sympathies  as  broad  as  human- 
ity, a  private  character  spotless.  In  intellect  keen, 
in  judgment  clear,  in  courage  indomitable,  he  has 
the  confidence  and  love  of  all  who  know  him. 

"A  lifelong  Democrat,  he  believes  the  greatest 
good  that  comes  to  the  American  people  is  through 
the  perpetuation  of  Democratic  principles ;  he  be- 
lieves and  stands  firmly  on  the  Democratic  na- 
tional platform;  is  for  the  free  coinage  of  silver 
and  gold  at  the  ratio  of  16  to  1,  independent  of 
any  nation  on  earth,  and  believes  that  the  greatest 
liberty  which  man  can  enjoy  is  that  which  flows 
from  equal  and  exact  laws  to  all.  He  will  not 
brook  the  oppression  of  man,  woman  or  child,  if 
in  his  power  to  prevent. 

"He  is  not  a  lawyer.  The  bright  hopes  of  young 
manhood    for    a   professional    life,    circumstances 


94  IaEmixiscences  of  ax 

never  allowed  him  to  realize;  yet  he  has  a  judg- 
ment and  intellect  which  fit  him  for  any  position. 
He  has  a  keen  insight  into  the  just  and  right, 
loves  justice  for  its  own  sake,  loves  it  as  a  patriot, 
because  it  assures  Americans  property,  life  and 
happiness ;  because  it  is  a  priceless  legacy  from  tlie 
fathers;  because  Americans  defended  it  with  their 
lives,  their  fortunes,  and  their  sacred  honor. 

"We  present  to  you  a  man  who  will  represent 
this  great  district  from  Texline  across  the  fields 
to  Eastland,  from  Decatur  across  the  plains  to  El 
Paso.  He  knows  the  interest  of  the  farmer  gath- 
ering his  golden  grain,  he  knows  the  interest  of  the 
stockman  gathering  his  herds  on  the  plain,  and 
will  ably  represent  them  in  our  National  Congress. 
We  present  you  a  man  in  whom  the  welfare  and 
the  honor  of  our  people  will  find  a  fitting  repre- 
sentative— T.  H.  Bowman.  As  a  soldier  he  was 
brave,  as  a  citizen  he  is  loyal,  as  a  man  he  is  hon- 
est.^^ 

The  convention  was  in  session  four  or  five  days. 
The  voting  was  long  and  tedious.  The  printed 
proceedings  of  the  convention  show:  "115th  bal- 
lot— Calhoun  19,  Hart  28,  Stephens  38,  Plemmons 
53,  Bowman  69.  On  the  116th  ballot  Bowman 
went  to  71  votes.  This  vote  almost  set  the  Bow- 
man following  wild,  and  his  supporters  looked  for 
his  nomination  at  any  time." 

At  length  the  end  came,  as  must  come  to  alt 
things.     Hon.  John  D.  Stephens  was  nominated. 

Bill  Plemmons,  now  gone  to  his  reward,  was 
nature's   nobleman — an   honest   man,   the   noblest 


EX-CONFEDEIJATE   SoLDIER.  95 

work  of  God.  His  cliaracteristic  speecli  in  witli- 
drawing  from  the  race  is  herewith  published  for 
the  benefit  of  his  many  friends.  Advancing  to 
the  stand  Judge  Plemmons  said  : 

"Three  great  events  occurred  in  1844.  The 
electric  telegraph  was  invented,  Polk  was  elected 
president  and  I  was  born.  (Laughter.)  I  made 
up  ni}'  mind  long  ago  that  I  would  never  lock  this 
convention.  All  my  competitors  are  still  in  the 
race,  yet,  unlike  them,  I  have  never  lost  a  vote 
on  a  single  ballot.  (Cheers.)  I  went  to  the  front 
for  the  Confederacy  in  1861  at  the  age  of  16  and 
surrendered  with  Lee  at  Appomattox.  (Cheers.) 
I  then  stole  a  mule  (laughter)  and  rode  him  home. 
For  the  good  of  my  country  I  left  Tennessee  and 
came  to  Texas.  (Terrific  applause  and  cheers.) 
I  first  stopped  at  Tyler  and  I  guess  it  was  there 
that  I  acquired  my  hankering  for  a  desire  to  draw 
the  salary  of  a  congressman  from  this  district. 
(Laughter  and  applause.)  Twenty-five  years  ago 
I  moved  to  Clay  County  and  resided  right  here  in 
this  town  until  the  population  got  too  dense  for 
me  and  I  went  on  west.  (Laughter.)  I  have 
lived  there  long  enough  to  know  what  it  takes  to 
make  a  Democrat  and  a  man.  (Cheers.)  For  over 
100  ballots  the  old  Stonewall  brigade  from  the 
Panhandle  has  cast  44  votes  for  Bill  Plemmons. 
They  have  never  wavered.  They  mustered  this 
for  me  even  after  the  basis  of  representation  had 
been  clianged  against  me.  They  stand  right  here 
and  you  all  see  them.  They  are  the  men  to  make 
any   country   great,    and    I    have   just    ordered    a 


96  Reminiscences  of  an 

leather  medal  for  ever3'one  of  them  (cheers)  to 
be  stamped  one  one  side:  *106  to  210'  and  on  the 
other  ''l-i/  (Cheers  and  applause.)  M}^  44  votes 
in  this  convention  are  from  men  who  make  any 
country  great.  They  are  from  men  who  raise  tlie 
finest  steers  and  the  finest  babies  (cheers,  laughter 
and  cries  of  ^Go  it,  Bill.^  '^God  bless  you.'  ^^e 
love  you')  ever  seen  in  any  land  on  any  day.  My 
only  regret  has  been  that  -I  was  not  born  in  this 
country.  If  my  father  had  treated  me  right  I 
would  have  been  born  where  I  now  live  (laughter 
and  cheering),  but  on  reaching  man's  estate  I 
chose  the  place  of  my  abode  and  I  came  to  western 
Texas.  (Laughter.)  Two  years  ago  two  Demo- 
crats aspired  to  this  nomination  and  they  were 
turned  loose  with  the  result  that  one  was  elected. 
There  are  five  Democrats  in  this  race  and  with  all 
in  the  field  a  Populist  from  Jack  or  Wise  County 
would  be  sure  to  win.  (Laughter  and  cheers.) 
The  people  of  Texas  know  how  I  was  treated  here. 
They  will  see  my  vote  and  reflect  that  I  was  the 
sufferer.  I  am  going  to  now  get  out  of  the  way. 
I  don't  care  who  is  nominated.  I  will  support 
him  and  further  stump  the  district  for  him.  Bill 
Plemmons  never  v\Tonged  a  man  intentionally  in 
his  life.  He  has  friends  and  they  have  stood  to 
him.  I  don't  know  how  they  are  going  to  vote, 
and  further,  I  don't  care.  I  absolve  them  from 
all  allegiance  to  me." 

Ories  of  "Hurrah  for  Plemmons  I"  and  a  voice 
said :     "Bill  Plemmons,  tliey  have  rode  you  to  the 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  97 

queen^s  taste  so  far,  but  there  is  going  to  be  a 
hereafter/' 

Continuing  Plemmons  said :  "I  was  hot  when 
I  addressed  you  the  other  day,  but  I  meant  all  I 
said.  It  came  from  my  heart.  I  still  say  there  are 
enough  thieves  (laughter)  ■  in  the  Panhandle  to 
support  me  (cheers),  and  I  am  further  almost 
always  absent  from  home  defending  some  poor 
man  who  has  been  called  upon  to  take  the  life  of 
another — in  self-defense  only,  of  course.  (Ap- 
plause.) I  am  independent  and  propose  to  stay 
so.  When  the  time  comes  that  I  am  not  I  want 
you  to  kick  me  out  of  the  State  clear  into  Fort 
Worth  or  Dallas.^'     (Cheers  and  laughter.) 

Here,  with  tears  streaming  from  his  eyes,  he 
turned  and  addressed  his  valiant  forty-four.  He 
called  them  the  "Stonewall  brigade."  He  told 
them  how  he  was  out  for  good.  His  speech  along 
here  was  touching  and  brought  tears  from  more 
than  one.  Concluding,  he  said:  "I  am  going 
home  to-day,  nomination  or  no  nomination.  I  am 
out  of  it.  I  have  led  on  many  ballots,  but  I  can 
never  be  named  by  this  body  and  I  know  it.  1 
leave  the  record  so  faithfully  portrayed  in  the 
News  of  this  convention  for  the  inspection  of  the 
public.  I  do  not  fear  the  result.  Nominate  who 
you  may,  I  am  at  his  service  and  also  that  of  my 
party." 

On  the  recommendation  of  Governor  Eoss  and 
Mrs.  Kate  Cabell  Currie  I  gave  a  few  lectures  in 
adjoining  counties  for  the  ex-Confederate  cause. 
Reminiscences — 7. 


98  Reminiscences  of  an 

Ex-Governor  Sul  Ross,  Texas  member  of  the 
executive  committee  of  the  Southern  Memorial 
Association,  writes:  "I  take  pleasure  in  com- 
mending Judge  T.  H.  Bowman  and  his  praise- 
worthy work  to  my  Confederate  comrades  and 
other  friends.  I  hope  they  will  lend  him  all  pos- 
sible assistance  and  encouragement/' 

.  Mrs.  Kate  Cabell  Currie,  of  Dallas,  president  of 
the  Daughters  of  the  Confederac}^  writes:  "I 
want  to  thank  the  author  of  the  address  to  ^The 
Womanhood  of  the  South,'  and  to  express  the  sin- 
cere hope  that  your  lecture,  ^A  Leaf  from  Mem- 
ory's Pages,'  will  be  appreciated  as  it  should  be. 
I  will  take  pleasure  in  forwarding  your  generous 
donations  to  the  proper  authority." 

The  press  of  West  Texas,  which  was  ever  kind 
to  me,  and  had  elected  me  to  an  honorary  mem- 
bership in  their  association,  thus  notices  my  lec- 
ture : 

"Judge  Bowman  of  our  city  is  engaged  in  de- 
livering a  series  of  lectures  in  aid  of  the  effort  to 
raise  funds  for  the  erection  of  the  Confederate 
Battle  Abbey.  The  cause  he  thus  aids  is  a  laudable 
one,  and  in  him  has  an  eloquent  advocate." — The 
Pantagraph. 

"Judge  Bowman,  of  Big  Springs,  lectured  at 
the  courthouse  Monday  night  to  an  appreciative 
audience.  The  judge  is  a  fluent  speaker." — Sweet- 
water Review. 

"Judge  Bowman's  lecture,  '^A  Leaf  from  Mem- 
ory's Pages,'  showed  very  careful  preparation,  be- 
ing  a  model   of   fine   language   and   brimful   of 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  99 

pathos.  The  manner  of  its  delivery  was  deliberate, 
smooth  and  highly  interesting  throughout — a 
manner  characteristic  of  this  master  of  platform 
nomenclature.  All  who  have  ever  heard  this  gifted 
genius,  who  catches  the  public  with  his  oratory, 
are  always  willing  and  anxious  to  accord  him  au- 
dience."— The  Coming  West. 

"Judge  Bowman  is  an  eloquent  speaker,  and  all 
admit  that  he  did  the  subject  full  justice.  The 
speaker  paid  an  eloquent  tribute  to  Southern  sol- 
diers, and  a  just  tribute  to  General  Grant  for  his 
magnanimous  treatment  of  General  Lee,  which 
finds  a  responsive  chord  in  every  Southern  heart." 
— Baird  Star. 

"The  lecture  was  a  very  able  one.  It  is  a  worthy 
cause,  championed  by  a  worthv  man." — Merkel 
Mail. 

"The  lecture  of  Judge  T.  H.  Bowman  was  one 
of  the  finest  ever  delivered  in  Eastland.  Truly  an 
accomplished  young  lady  spoke  advisedly  when  she 
declared  :  ^It  was  as  music  upon  the  waters.^  This 
lecture  is  worthy  a  place  in  every  Southern  house- 
hold. It  is  a  masterpiece  brimming  full  of  his- 
torical truths,  and  an  intellectual  tribute  to  the 
South  and  her  people  that  should  be  preserved  as  a 
legacy  by  Confederate  sons  and  daughters." — 
Eastland  Chronicle. 

Eesident  pastors  of  churches  not  yet  having  set- 
tled in  the  West,  most  of  the  marriages  were  per- 
formed by  civil  officers.  I  officiated  at  very  many 
such  ceremonies,  sometimes  two  or  three  in  one 
day.     An  outlaw  for  whom  a  large  reward  was 


100  Eeminiscences  of  an 

offered  came  to  my  office  one  morning  with  his 
girl  and  was  married.  He  was  dressed  as  a  cow- 
boy. The  sheriff  was  a  spectator  and  was  very 
much  chagrined  when  later  he  learned  the  facts. 
He  was  surprised  and  captured  a  short  time  after- 
wards in  Xew  Mexico.  WTien  he  was  being  car- 
ried east  for  trial  the  train  stopped  at  our  town 
and  the  sheriff  boarded  the  train  to  have  a  look  at 
the  fellow  who  had  so  boldly  slipped  through  his 
fingers.  He  said  to  me  next  morning:  "Judge, 
that  was  our  man,  sure,  and,  by  George,  the  little 
woman  is  sticking  to  him  yet."  I  replied :  "Bill, 
adversity  tries  men  and  often  finds  them  to  be 
counterfeit;  but  with  women  it  only  rubs  off  the 
dross  and  reveals  the  true  gold." 

A  Mexican  wedding  in  that  country  is  very 
unlike  that  of  Americans.  Xotice  was  given  me 
to  be  over  in  the  Mexican  suburb  one  night  to 
marry  a  couple  of  bon  ton  Mexicans.  The  cere- 
mony I  understood  was  to  be  at  9  o'clock.  The 
dancing  commenced  at  that  hour  and  continued 
until  12  o'clock.  The  room  was  then  cleared,  a 
long  table  placed  in  the  room,  with  a  small  one 
in  the  corner  for  myself  and  a  few  friends.  Sup- 
per was  brought  in,  and  it  was  indeed  a  grand  one. 
About  1  o'clock  the  dancing  was  resumed  and  con- 
tinued until  nearly  morning.  At  last  Juan  and, 
his  bride,  with  an  interpreter,  broke  off  from  the 
dance  and  stood  before  me  to  be  made  man  and 
wife.  After  the  ceremony  the  mothers  of  the  bride 
and  groom  announced  that  all  the  company,  in- 
cluding my  friend  Juan,  could  now  disperse,  that 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  101 

the  festivities  would  be  concluded  on  the  next 
Sunday,  when  the  priest  arrived. 

Having  been  unanimously  elected  county  attor- 
ney, I  qualified  under  special  license  from  District 
Judge  Kennedy  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
my  office.  Within  a  year,  however,  I  reflected  that 
it  was  full  late  in  life  for  the  arduous  studies  nec- 
essary to  success  in  the  profession,  and  resigned 
the  position. 

Again  the  old  love  of  ranch  life  seized  me  with 
redoubled  force,  and  as  much  as  I  regretted  to 
leave  many  friends  in  Big  Springs,  who  had  hon- 
ored and  trusted  me,  I  moved  to  Bronte,  situated 
in  a  fine  country  on  the  Colorado  Eiver,  in  Coke 
County.  You  may  readily  guess  the  character  of 
the  people  when  you  learn  that  they  named  their 
county  seat  Eobert  Lee.  Ke)^,  Stark,  Shook  and 
dear  brother  Harris  and  families,  by  many  deeds 
of  kindness  soon  won  the  warmest  affections  of 
myself  and  family. 

A  quiet,  easy  life,  much  coveted,  seems  not  to 
have  been  intended  for  me.  Always  a  still  small 
voice  has  whispered  to  me  "Move  on."  Very  soon 
I  was  chosen  by  a  committee  of  distinguished  citi- 
zens, among  whom  were  Hon.  C.  A.  Culberson, 
Hon.  George  Clark,  Hon.  W.  S.  Baker,  Hon.  W. 
L.  Prather  and  Colonel  Charles  Goodnight,  to 
solicit  funds  for  the  erection  of  a  grand  monument 
to  be  erected  in  memory  of  Sul  Eoss.  I  accepted 
the  sacred  trust,  but  ere  I  had  entered  upon  this 
"labor  of  love"  the  Spanish-American  war  was  de- 
clared, and  postponed  our  operations  indefinitely. 


102  Reminiscences  of  an 


CHAPTER  XII. 


Appointed  Superintendent  of  State  Orphan  Home. 

In  the  winter  of  1898  my  son  Hall,  an  active 
friend  of  the  Governor-elect,  notified  me  that  in 
January  I  would  be  named  by  Governor  Sayers  for 
the  position  of  Superintendent  of  the  State 
Orphan  Home.  I  accepted  the  appointment  with 
a  considerable  degree  of  reluctance  to  assume  such 
great  responsibility,  with  no  special  qualification 
for  the  place,  except  that  I  had  once  been  a  teacher 
and  loved  children.  My  official  report  of  the  in- 
stitution will  show  what  measure  of  success  at- 
tended my  first  administration. 

REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT,  STATE  ORPHAN 
HOME. 

To  His  Excellency,  Joseph  D.  Sayers,  Governor  of 
Texas: 

Dear  Sir. — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  my  re- 
port of  the  present  condition  of  the  State  Orphan 
Home,  and  the  operations  thereof,  since  February 
2,  1899,  at  which  time  I  assumed  the  office  of 
superintendent. 

Wlien  elected  by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  on  your 
nomination,  I  began  my  work  with  serious  mis- 
givings as  to  my  fitness.  I  esteemed  it  no  light 
thing  to  be  intrusted  with  the  guardianship  and 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  103 

care  of  three  hundred  children.  With  great  pride 
in  the  State's  eleemosynary  work  and  with  a  heart 
full  of  love  and  sympathy  for  these  helpless  ones, 
driven  by  misfortune  to  seek  refuge  from  the 
storms  of  life  beneath  the  roof  so  generously  built 
by  Texas  to  shelter  them,  I  accepted  the  task  with 
a  firm  resolve  to  give  to  the  institution  a  kindly, 
parental  and  just  administration. 

In  succeeding  Colonel  W.  A.  Wortham,  an  hon- 
ored citizen  who  had  been  for  eight  years  the  su- 
perintendent and  much  loved  "Grandpa"  of  these 
children,  I  realized  that  the  difficulties  of  my  new 
position  were  many  and  great.  Knowing,  as  he 
did,  the  dread  on  the  children's  part  of  a  change 
of  superintendents.  Colonel  Wortham  and  his  good 
wife,  in  great  kindness  to  me,  whom  they  had 
known  for  many  years,  rendered  valuable  assist- 
ance at  this  critical  juncture.  Long  ere  now,  1 
trust,  the  little  ones,  while  not  forgetting  their 
old  friends,  have  opened  their  hearts  to  the  new 
ones.  Much  of  kindness  and  affection  and  but 
little  of  disrespect  and  unkindenss  have  been 
shown  me. 

OTHER  OFFICIALS. 

The  board  at  its  first  meeting,  after  my  expres- 
sion of  entire  willingness  that  they  elect  any  suit- 
able lady  for  matron,  proceeded  by  unanimous  vote 
to  elect  my  wife,  Mrs.  Mollie  T.  Bowman,  to  this 
position.  She  superintends  the  kitchen,  dairy, 
dining  rooms,  laundry,  sewing  department  and 
dormitories.  Her  work,  arduous  and  never  end- 
ing, is  being  conscientiously  performed. 


104  Eeminiscences  of  an 

On  June  6,  1899,  Mr.  Jink  Evans  resigned  the 
office  of  trustee  and  was  elected  industrial  man- 
ager.   He  is  untiring  and  efficient. 

BOARD   OF   TRUSTEES. 

The  members  of  the  board  in  their  frequent 
visits  to  the  Home  have  manifested  great  interest 
in  its  welfare,  and  have  shown  me  much  kindness. 
The  former  chairman,  Dr.  S.  W.  Johnson,  and  his 
successor.  Colonel  W.  D.  Haynie,  have  always 
given  me  patient  hearings  and  wise  counsel. 

EMPLOYES. 

Our  help  in  the  various  departments  of  the  in- 
stitution is  first  class.  They  have  the  good  of  the 
Home  and  the  children  at  heart.  Quite  a  number 
of  these  good  women  have  been  here  for  a  long 
term  of  years. 

FOOD  AND  CLOTHING. 

The  table  is  well  supplied  with  good  wholesome 
food  in  as  great  variety  as  possible.  Milk  from 
the  dairy  and  ripe  fruit  from  the  orchard  have 
been  in  plentiful  supply  during  the  summer. 

The  children  are  plainly  but  genteelly  clad. 

DORMITORIES. 

Quite  a  number  of  new  beds  and  mattresses  have 
been  added  and  several  hundred  pairs  of  blankets 
purchased.  The  children  sleep  as  comfortably  as 
the  crowded  condition  of  dormitories  will  allow. 
Additional  room  should  be  provided. 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  105 

HEALTH. 

With  the  exception  of  measles  epidemic  the 
present  and  last  summers,  there  has  been  remark- 
ably little  sickness.  We  have  had  a  few  severe 
cases  of  pneumonia  and  la  grippe.  Our  hospital 
service,  in  charge  of  Dr.  Clay  Johnson,  home 
physician,  and  Miss  Jennie  Eikard,  trained  nurse, 
is  not  surpassed  in  any  institution  in  the  State. 
AYe  have  lost  by  death  but  six  children.  They  have 
been  genteelly  buried  on  the  Home  grounds  with 
religious  services  at  the  grave.  An  inexpensive 
monument  sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  State's 
orphan  dead  should  be  provided. 

SCHOOL. 

A  splendid  school  with  kindergarten,  primary, 
grammar  and  high  school  grades  is  maintained  for 
nine  months  each  year.  We  have  also  an  interest- 
ing music  department,  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Annabel 
Morse,  where  instruction  is  given  on  the  piano, 
mandolin  and  guitar.  Special  attention  is  given 
to  vocal  music.  Shorthand,  typewriting  and 
bookkeeping  will  be  added  next  session. 

There  were  three  graduates  in  1899  and  twelve 
in  1900.  They  are  all  in  honorable  employment 
for  which  they  are  well  equipped. 

For  the  term  beginning  September  2-4th  the  fol- 
lowing most  excellent  faculty  have  been  employed : 
Prof.  J.  H.  Morse,  a  worthy  gentleman  and  ripe 
scholar,  was  re-elected  principal;  Misses  Mary 
Chapman,  Maud  Campbell,  Buena  Vaughan, 
Hixie   Harrison,  Lena   Taylor   and  Texie   Horn- 


106  Keminiscences  of  an 

beak  will  have  charge  of  the  several  grades.  Three 
of  our  Home  girls.  Misses  Ellen  Benson,  Birdie 
White  and  Malana  Nelson,  were  elected  assistant 
teachers. 

RELIGIOUS  EXERCISES. 

Chapel  services  are  held  every  morning  during 
the  session  of  the  school,  and  Sunday  school  every 
Sunday  evening.  The  school  is  well  supplied  with 
Bibles,  song  books  and  non-sectarian  literature. 

Bro.  F.  S.  Brooks,  of  Corsicana,  is  still  faithful 
to  the  good  work.  The  pastors  of  the  various  city 
churches,  with  a  true  missionary  spirit,  hold  serv- 
ices with  the  children  every  Sabbath.  More  than 
one-half  of  the  children  are  members  of  the  church. 
When  circumstances  will  permit,  the  children  are 
allowed  to  attend  the  churches  in  the  city  to  which 
they  belong. 

INDUSTRIAL. 

The  boys  work  the  farm,  keep  the  grounds,  plant 
trees,  care  for  the  stock  and  poultry,  milk  the  cows 
and  cut  the  wood.  A  few  of  them  are  being  taught 
to  do  carpenters'  and  plumbers'  work.  Within  a 
very  short  time  we  will  have  mattress,  broom  and 
shoe  repair  shops  in  operation.  The  girls  are  be- 
ing taught  washing,  cooking  and  sewing.  Quite  a 
number  of  them  are  very  proficient. 

VISITING. 

The  Corsicana  public  are  admitted  two  evenings 
in  the  week,  citizens  of  other  parts  of  the  State 


Ex- Confederate  Soldier.  107 

are  admitted  at  all  times.  Because  of  serious  in- 
terruption to  school  and  other  work,  the  board  at 
my  request  has  restricted  visits  from  the  relatives 
of  the  children  to  the  vacation  months,  except 
when  summoned  here  in  case  of  sickness  or  death. 

DISCIPLINE. 

Believing  that  kindly  methods  and  appeals  to 
reason  ought  to  do  more  than  the  lash,  I  have  in- 
structed the  teachers  and  employes  not  to  whip  the 
children.  When  grave  offenses  are  committed  the 
offenders  are  brought  to  me,  and  when  all  mild 
measures  fail  to  work  reformation,  corporal  pun- 
ishment is  resorted  to. 

STATUTORY  REQUIREMENTS. 

As  the  law^  directs,  I  have  conducted  all  neces- 
sary correspondence  about  the  children,  have  kept 
the  record  of  names,  ages  and  such  other  data  as 
could  be  had  concerning  the  history  of  the  chil- 
dren. 

I  have  furnished  the  school  authorities  with  list 
of  children  within  scholastic  age,  and  as  treasurer 
of  our  public  school  fund  have  submitted  my  re- 
port to  the  State  Superintendent. 

As  ex  officio  secretary  have  kept  record  of 
board's  proceedings,  and  under  purchasing  agency 
law  have  acted  in  capacity  of  storekeeper  and  ac- 
countant. 

Appended  hereto  will  be  found  names  of  chil- 
dren received,  died,  gone  out,  etc. ;  also  full  alpha- 


108  Keminiscences  of  an 

betical  list  of  the  three  hundred  and  four  children 
now  in  the  institution. 

CONCLUSION. 

Let  me  thank  you,  Governor,  for  the  mark  of 
your  confidence  expressed  by  my  nomination  for 
this  important  position,  and  beg  to  assure  you  that 
in  all  good  conscience  I  "have  done  what  I  could" 
for  Texas,  and  for  the  moral,  intellectual  and 
physical  good  of  her  wards. 

With  great  respect,  your  friend  and  obedient 
servant,  T.  H.  Bo^man^  Superintendent. 

Appendix  omitted. 

trustees'  report. 
Governor  Joseph  D.  Sayers,  Austin,  Texas: 

Dear  Governor. — As  required  by  law,  we  re- 
spectfully submit  to  your  excellency,  and  through 
you  to  the  Legislature,  the  following  report. 

ORGANIZATION^  ETC. 

The  board,  composed  of  Messrs.  Jink  Evans,  vS. 
W.  Johnson,  W.  D.  Haynie,  E.  H.  Daniel  and  J. 
H.  Haden,  qualified  under  your  appointment  on 
February  2,  1900,  and  proceeded  to  organize  by 
electing  Mr.  Jink  Evans  as  chairman. 

T.  H.  Bowman,  of  Coke  County,  was  elected 
superintendent,  and  Mrs.  Mollie  T.  Bowman  was 
elected  matron.  Dr.  Clay  Johnson,  of  Navarro 
County,  was  elected  home  physician. 

On  June  6,  1899,  Mr.  Jink  Evans  resigned  the 
office  of  trustee  to  accept  the  position  of  industrial 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  109 

manager,  and  Dr.  S.  W.  Johnson  was  elected  to 
succeed  him  as  chairman  of  the  board.  On  May  1, 
1900,  Dr.  Johnson,  having  been  elected  to  the 
office  of  mayor  of  the  city  of  Corsicana,  resigned 
his  place  on  the  board.  Mr.  J.  W.  Edens  was  ap- 
pointed by  your  excellency  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

BUSINESS  MEETINGS,  ETC. 

We  have  held  regular  monthly  meetings  of  the 
board  snd  at  said  meetings  every  interest  of  the 
State  and  the  inmates  of  the  institution  were  care- 
fully considered. 

The  superintendent  and  matron  always  reported 
the  situation  frankly  and  fully.  We  have  usually 
met  at  the  Home  and  have  seen  for  ourselves  how 
the  children  were  cared  for.  We  have  not  hesi- 
tated to  make  suggestions  along  various  lines  for 
the  betterment  of  conditions,  and  have  always 
found  the  officers  and  employes  ready  to  adopt 
anything  which  promised  good  to  the  children. 

SUPERINTENDENT  AND  MATRON. 

We  take  pleasure  in  stating  that  Judge  Bowman 
and  his  wife  have  worked  hard  and  faithfully  to 
carry  on  this  great  work,  and  have  measured  up 
well  to  the  manifold  duties  and  great  responsibili- 
ties of  their  positions.  They  are  as  near  as  may 
be  father  and  mother  to  these  children  and  are 
ever  careful  of  their  physical  wants  and  watchful 
of  their  moral  welfare.  For  particulars  we  refer 
you  to  the  foregoing  most  excellent  report  of  the 
superintendent,  which  we  heartily  approve. 


110  Eeminiscences  of  an 

children. 

As  the  superintendent's  report  shows,  there  are 
three  hundred  and  four  children  in  the  Home. 
They  are  contented  and  happy.  Every  means  pos- 
sible for  their  recreation  and  pleasure  is  employed. 
Socials  under  the  personal  supervision  of  the 
matron  are  frequently  allowed.  At  Christmas  they 
were  bountifully  supplied  with  "good  things/' 
both  at  the  table  and  on  the  Christmas-tree. 

In  charge  of  an  official  they  frequently  go  out  to 
meetings,  etc.  Last  summer,  in  charge  of  Mr. 
Evans,  we  gave  one  hundred  bo3's  a  royal  treat  in 
a  three  days'  camp-out  for  fishing  and  hunting. 
They  were  the  guests  of  our  Mr.  E.  H.  Daniel. 

The  management  has  always  allowed  them,  as 
far  as  numbers  would  permit,  all  the  liberties  of  a 
well  regulated  family. 

ADMISSION  or   CHILDREN. 

We  submit  to  the  wisdom  of  the  Legislature 
whether  or  not  the  law  should  be  so  amended  as 
to  more  clearly  define  what  class  of  children  are 
eligible  to  admission,  and  to  make  twelve  years 
the  maximum  age  at  which  boys  may  be  admitted. 

We  have  continued  the  practice  of  the  former 
board  and  admitted  some"  children  who  had  one 
living  parent,  when  affidavit  was  made  by  two 
citizens  before  the  county  judge  that  said  parent 
was  physically  unable  to  earn  a  support  for  the 
child. 

Under  this  head  we  desire  to  state  that  we  have 
endeavored  to  make  it  known  that  the  Home  was 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  Ill 

a  State  institution,  created  and  maintained  for 
all  indigent  orphan  children  in  Texas  who  might 
desire  admission. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  Home  a  great  many 
children  appear  from  Navarro  County  who  in 
fact  were  from  elsewhere,  but  came  to  Navarro 
waiting  for  entrance  and  when  admitted  gave  said 
county  as  home. 

By  reference  to  list  of  children  received  since 
February,  1899,  it  will  be  seen  that  many  parts  of 
the  State  are  being  represented  here. 

DISMISSAL  or  CHILDREN. 

The  statute  seems  practically  silent  as  to  when 
and  how  children  may  go  out  from  the  Home. 
Our  rule  has  been :  First,  they  may  be  adopted 
under  the  laws  of  the  State.  In  this  way  only  a 
few  very  3^oung  children  are  taken  out.  Second, 
the  near .  relatives  may  withdraw  them  by  making 
proof  under  oath  that  they  are  able  to  care  for 
and  educate  them.  Third,  homes  are  provided 
for  the  children  who  have  completed  the  course  of 
study  in  our  school. 

IMrROVEMENTS. 

We  have  built  a  dairy,  girls'  kitchen,  mattress, 
broom  and  shoe  shops,  and  a  wagon  and  implement 
shed,  as  authorized  by  the  Legislature,  at  a  total 
cost  of  $4527.90. 

REPAIR  OF  OLD  BUILDINGS. 

The  appropriation  of  $1000  for  this  purpose  was 
expended   in   improving  water   closets,   enlarging 


112  Eeminiscences  of  an 

kitchen  and  store  rooms,  and  in  repairing  and  re- 
painting roofs. 

There  are  many  other  repairs  necessary. 

ARTESIAN   WELL. 

A  pump  and  boiler  were  purchased  to  raise 
water  in  the  standpipe  sufficiently  high  to  reach 
the  upper  stories  of  the  buildings.  We  have  to 
report  that  the  water  supply  is  still  insufficient. 
We  believe  that  it  can  be  greatly  increased  by  the 
use  of  a  deep  well  pump. 

LANDS   PURCHASED. 

Provision  was  made  by  the  last  Legislature  to 
buy  185  acres  of  land.  We  have  purchased  118 
acres  adjoining  the  Home  tract  at  $20  per  acre. 
Total  number  of  acres  now  owned  by  the  State, 
318. 

In  this  connection  we  wish  to  report  that  we 
were  offered  a  40-acre  tract  of  land  situated  ad- 
joining and  very  near  to  the  home.  It  was  held 
for  the  purpose  of  establishing  thereon  an  orphan 
home  for  colored  children.  Judge  Eufus  Hardy 
got  control  of  the  land  and  agreed  to  sell  it  at  the 
price  fixed  by  the  Legislature.  The  abstract  of 
title  was  submitted,  as  the  law  provides,  to  the 
Attorney-General,  who  reported  to  the  board  that 
it  was  all  right  except  some  minor  matters  which 
they  could  have  corrected.  After  said  corrections 
were  made  and  a  resurvey  of  the  land  completed, 
the  board  accepted  a  special  warranty  deed  from 
Judge  Hardy,  had  same  recorded  and  sent  with  an 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  113 

approved  account  for  the  purchase  money  to  the 
Comptroller.  The  Attorney-General  declined  to 
approve  the  special  warranty  deed  and  the  money 
was  not  paid.  Regretting  exceedingly  the  mistake 
on  our  part,  if  mistake  it  was,  we  ask  that  some 
action  be  taken  in  the  matter. 

EMERGENCY  PURCHASES. 

We  have  tried  to  comply  with  the  requirements 
of  the  State  Purchasing  Agent  and  to  respect  his 
office,  but  in  some  cases  have  been  compelled  to 
resort  to  the  emergency  clause.  Especially  has  this 
been  the  case  in  our  hospital  department.  Other 
institutions  of  the  State  are  supplied  with  a  drug- 
gist and  prescriptions  are  filled  in  the  hospital. 
Having  no  such  facilities,  we  had  to  fill  these  pre- 
scriptions in  the  city  under  the  emergency  clause. 

INDUSTRIAL  DEPARTMENT. 

From  the  report  of  Mr.  Jink  Evans,  industrial 
manager,  who  is  a  long-tried  friend  of  the  Home 
and  a  faithful,  energetic  official,  we  submit  the 
following  summary  of  work  done  in  his  depart- 
ment. 

In  1899  the  boys  cultivated  507  acres  of  land 
the  products  of  which  were  54  bales  of  cotton,  1500 
bushels  of  oats,  30  tons  of  sorghum  hay,  3  barrels 
of  syrup,  10  tons  of  millet  hay  and  2500  bushels  of 
corn.  Hauled  250  tons  of  hulls  and  meal  and  75 
loads  of  supplies  from  Corsicana.  Unloaded  from 
cars  on  Home  switch  300  cords  of  wood.  Hauled 
Reminiscences — 8. 


114  Keminiscences  or  an 

200  loads  of  dirt  and  excavated  for  and  laid  1125 
feet  of  pipe. 

In  1900,  the  board,  believing  it  to  be  unprofit- 
able to  the  State  and  detrimental  to  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  bo3's,  declined  to  rent  land  and  con- 
fined farming  operations  to  135  acres  owned  by 
the  State.  The  same  has  been  cultivated  in  corn, 
cotton,  sorghum,  broom  corn,  etc. 

During  this  year  3000  feet  of  walks  and  drives 
have  been  made.  Considerable  of  our  own  work 
in  carpentering  and  plumbing  has  been  done.  Mr. 
Evans  reports  a  steady  improvement  in  the  habits 
of  industry  and  general  deportment.  He  says  that 
the  superintendent  has  ever  been  ready  and  willing 
to  render  to  him  cordial  support  in  his  department. 

Live  stock  now  on  hand :  55  milk  cows,  28 
calves,  1  Durham  and  1  Jersey  bull,  15  horses  and 
mules,  65  hogs. 

RECOMMENDATIONS. 

We  beg  to  call  attention  to  our  estimate  of  ap- 
propriations for  next  two  years,  appended  to  this 
report.  We  will  not  argue  the  necessity  for  said 
appropriations,  but  simply  state  that  we  have 
asked  only  for  what  is  needed,  and  that  any  reduc- 
tion whatever  will  be  to  the  serious  detriment  of 
the  institution. 

We  recommend  and  urge  that  the  salary  of  the 
superintendent  be  increased  to  $1800  per  annum. 
His  present  salary  of  $1000,  out  of  which  he  pays 
$300  board,  is  not  by  any  means  adequate  compen- 
sation for  his  services. 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  115 

financial  statement. 

In  appendix  will  be  found  full  statement  of 
financial  operations  as  taken  from  the  superin- 
tendent's books. 

CONCLUSION. 

We  sincerely  hope  that  by  your  excellency's 
recommendation,  the  Legislature,  in  their  liberal- 
ity, may  largely  increase  the  good  work  being  done 
here.    Yours  very  respectfully, 

W.  D.  Haynie^  Chairman, 
R.  H.  Daniel^ 
J.  W.  Edens^ 
J.  H.  Haden^ 

Board  of  Trustees. 


"Discouraged  in  the  work  of  life, 
Disheartened  by  its  load; 
Shamed  by  its  failures  and  its  fears, 
Many  sink  beside  the  road." 

Again  nominated  by  Governor  Sayers  and  again 
unanimously  elected  superintendent  by  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  I  began  my  second  term  in  this  re- 
sponsible position  with  unabated  zeal  and  with 
more  knowledge  of  the  important  work.  Avoid- 
ing mistakes  which  experience  taught  me  had  been 
made,  the  future  promised  greater  success  than 
had  been  achieved  in  the  past.  Alas  for  human 
calculations ! 

Some  one  has  said  that  it  is  an  impossibility  to 
so  construct  one's  house  that  the  sun  can  shine  into 
all  the  rooms  in  the  evening.    The  engineer  "with 


116  Eeminiscences  of  an 

his  hand  upon  the  throttle  and  his  eye  upon  the 
rail"  has  made  many  a  run  successfully,  but  on  the 
last  trip  he  met  collision  and  death.  The  pilot 
with  his  eye  upon  the  compass  and  his  hand  upon 
the  wheel  has  made  many  a  safe  voyage,  but  on  the 
last  trip  he  ran  among  the  breakers  and  met  death 
upon  the  rocks.  The  great  oak,  with  its  roots  deep 
set  in  the  earth,  with  foliage  wide  spread,  with 
head  towering  above  others,  may  have  laughed  at 
the  wind  which  twisted  the  feeble  saplings;  but 
the  cyclone  comes  and  the  giant  of  the  forest  is 
uprooted  and  the  king  of  trees  is  laid  low. 

For  seventeen  years  in  various  positions  of  trust 
I  had  received  the  approbation  of  the  people.  The 
eighteenth  was  not  a  success.  In  so  far  as  the  fault 
was  mine,  I  am  sorry.  In  so  far  as  the  blame  rests 
on  others,  I  forgive  them. 

With  the  old  crutches  by  my  side,  which  have 
borne  me  up  hill  and  down  hill'  for  forty  years, 
I  sit  and  try  to  cultivate  the  beautiful  spirit  of 
the  great  man  of  whom  Grover  Cleveland  in  a 
recent  speech  said: 

*'My  hero,  when  afflictions  came  from  heaven, 
submissively  continued  to  praise  God;  and  when 
he  felt  the  cruel  stings  of  man's  ingratitude  and 
malice,  he  serenely  looked  towards  his  Heavenly 
Father's  face  and  kept  within  the  comforting  light 
of  a  pure  conscience." 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  117 


CONCLUSION 


"Watchman,  Tell  Us  of  the  Night,  What  Its  Sign* 
of  Promise  Are." 

The  world  of  men,  satisfied  or  dissatisfied  with 
the  past  and  present,  are  eager  to  look  over  the 
rock-ribbed  mountain  of  to-morrow  and  know 
what  that  misty,  ever-receding  mirage  called  the 
future  holds  in  store.  The  rich  man,  in  marble 
halls,  proud  of  his  possessions,  with  barns  filled  to 
overflowing  with  all  that  pleases  the  eye  and  min- 
isters to  his  luxurious,  selfish  life,  is  disturbed 
when  he  remembers  that  riches  have  wings;  and 
is  affrighted  when  he  "thinks  on^^  the  words  of  the 
Master,  "Thou  fool." 

The  poor  man,  in  his  hard,  hard  lot,  as  he  wends 
his  weary  way  back  to  yon  drear  attic  where  he  left 
a  dying  wife  and  starving  children,  falls  crushed 
by  the  automobile  of  the  millionaire,  and  as  he 
lies  upon  his  hospital  cot  peers  with  dying  eyes, 
and  with  fast  stiffening  fingers  tries  to  grasp  the 
ripe,  rich  fruits  of  Tantalus  just  beyond  him. 

The  young  man,  prodigal  of  the  now,  sees  time 
enough  in  the  morrow  to  vork  and  win  his  way. 

The  old  man,  weary  with  his  retrospective  jour- 
ney back  into  once  familiar  paths,  sighs  to  find 
himself  a  stranger  back  there;  and  he  too  looks 
forward  to  "paths  of  pleasantness  and  peace"  just 
"over  the  river." 


118  Reminiscences  of  an 

The  Confederate  soldier,  too,  with  his  old  heart 
beating  full  of  love  for  sons  and  daughters  and 
native  land,  is  tempted,  while  he  waits,  to  learn 
what  will  betide  this  great  country  of  ours  on  the 
to-morrow.  He  looks  into  the  horoscope  and  sees 
a  dark  picture  which  makes  afraid  the  soul  that 
never  knew  fear.  He  sees  the  bloated  features  of 
the  prince  of  trusts  and  the  careworn  face  of  the 
wage-earner.  The  picture  is  labeled  "Capital  and 
Labor/'  and  with  keen  eye  he  reads  timidly  writ- 
ten, "Lord  and  Peasant."  He  drops  the  glass  and 
exclaims,  "Xever  shall  this  be  in  America." 

He  looks  again;  the  dark  canvas  broadens  and 
he  reads  "Tariff's  to  make  the  rich  richer  and  the 
poor  poorer;"  aggregated  millions  in  reckless 
hands,  labor  unions  trying  to  assert  the  rights  of 
the  masses  against  the  classes  throttled  by  injunc- 
tions. He  sees  the  black  man  with  his  pent-up 
passions,  long  held  in  check  by  the  humanizing, 
civilizing  influence  of  his  former  masters,  now  ris- 
ing to  assert  claims  which  the  white  man  will  ever 
deny. 

He  sees  a  foreign  policy  big  with  entangling  al- 
liances of  which  the  father  of  his  country  told  us 
"to  beware." 

While  he  reads,  he  stops  to  recall  the  humiliat- 
ing spectacle  of  the  seeming  alliance  between  old 
England  and  the  great  Republic,  which  read  like 
this:  "Hold  off  while  we  whip  freedom  into  the 
Filipinos,  and  then  you  may  put  your  despotic 
heel  upon  the  neck  of  grand  old  Kruger  and  his 
African  republic." 


Ex-Confederate.  Soldier.  119 

Again  he  looks  and  sees  the  gathering  millions 
on  election  day,  and  while  he  looks  he  hears  a 
sound  which  makes  the  weak-coursing  lifeblood 
rush  through  his  veins  as  aforetime.  It's  the 
tramp  of  soldiers,  it's  the  click  of  muskets,  and 
the  rattle  of  sabers. 

Trembling  he  lowers  the  glass,  but  soon,  with 
the  instincts  of  a  soldier,  he  raises  it  to  his  eye 
to  see  fighting ;  but  no,  thank  God !  the  picture 
begins  to  brighten. 

He  sees  coming  in  the  distance  a  grand  man, 
with  form  and  face  like  a  god.  In  one  hand  he 
carries  the  Constitution  and  the  New  Testament, 
and  in  the  other  a  flag,  written  upon  one  side, 
"Government  for  the  people  by  the  people;"  and 
upon  the  other  side  "Equal  rights  for  all  and 
special  privileges  for  none." 

He  hears  a  hundred  million  Americans  shout 
Amen! 

The  vision  vanishes,  and,  like  Simeon  of  old, 
the  Confederate  soldier  witH  uplifted  eyes  ex- 
claims, "Now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in 
peace." 

The  End. 


.,    J.li..    . 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  121 


APPENDIX. 


Comrades  U.  C.  V. : 

The  news,  which  has  just  flashed  over  the 
Southland,  that  our  commander,  "John  B.  Gordon, 
is  dead'*  fills  us  with  grief  unspeakable. 

The  noble,  loyal,  loving  heart  has  ceased  to 
beat.  The  eye  that  flashed  upon  the  battlefield 
and  looked  with  loving  sympathy  upon  his  old 
comrades  when  war  was  done,  is  forever  dimmed. 
The  hand  that,  with  equal  poise  held  a  General's 
sword  and  the  executive  reins  of  his  beloved 
Georgia,  is  cold  in  the  grave.  The  eloquent 
tongue,  ever  ready  in  the  Senate  chamber  of  the 
Nation  and  upon  a  thousand  platforms  to  defend 
his  people,  is  still  in  death.  The  scarred,  mortal 
body  of  the  hero  has  put  on  immortality,  and  the 
soul  of  the  knightliest  gentleman  of  us  all  is  in 
heaven. 

The  editorial  in  the  "Houston  Chronicle,"  from 
the  pen  of  Marcellus  E.  Foster,  is  gladly  given  a 
place  here.  It  speaks  in  language  more  eloquent 
than  ours. 

IN  MEMORIAM— JOHN  B.  GORDON. 

When,  at  five  minutes  past  ten  on  the  night  of 
January  9,  John  Brown  Gordon  "fell  on  sleep" 
there  passed  from  earth  to  the  immortal  compan- 


122  Reminiscences  of  an 

ionship  of  his  heroic  brothers  in  arms  who  had 
preceded  him  to  the  "eternal  camping  ground" 
one  of  the  truest,  noblest,  knightliest  spirits  that 
ever  illustrated  by  his  example  and  his  deeds  the 
glory,  the  dignity  and  the  majesty  of  man  made 
in  the  image  of  his  Maker. 

But  a  few  days  ago  that  great  soldier,  James 
Longstreet,  last  but  one  of  an  illustrious  list  and 
line,  had  obeyed  the  inexorable  summons,  and 
scarce  had  his  silent  form,  ^Tiearsed  in  death," 
been  laid  in  its  narrow  habitation  when  he  who 
was  the  very  last  of  a  glorious  brotherhood  of 
chivalry  was  likewise  summoned  hence,  and  there 
is  left  to  the  world  now  but  the  history  and  the 
memory  of  that  glorious  group  of  martial  spirits 
who  will  stand  in  the  pantheon  of  history  as  "Lee 
and  his  Paladins." 

Never  since  the  death  of  Jefferson  Davis  filled 
a  land  with  mourning  and  bowed  a  great  people 
into  the  dust  of  unspeakable  sorrow  have  the 
hearts  of  the  people  of  the  South  been  touched  by 
such  poignant  grief  as  by  the  death  of  their  be- 
loved Gordon. 

It  is  a  paradox  ever  existent,  yet  ever  inexpli- 
cable, that,  though  death  is  absolutely  certain  and 
inevitable,  humanity  is  never  so  prepared  for  it 
but  what  it  brings  a  shock  and  smites  with  sorrow 
human  hearts  that  love.  It  was  known  that  Gen- 
eral Gordon  had  passed  the  limit  of  three-score 
years  and  ten,  and  that  more  than  once  recently 
he  had  been  sorely  stricken  by  alarming  illness; 
but,  despite  these  premonitions  of  the  approach- 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  123 

ing  end  seemingly  kindly  given  to  prepare  his  peo- 
ple for  the  closing  of  his  great  life,  they  clung  still 
to  the  hope  that  God  would  spare  him  yet  for 
many  years  to  the  land  whose  best  beloved  son  he 
was,  and  the  tidings  of  his  death  smote  them  with 
inexpressible  sorrow. 

He  m.ore  nearly  than  any  Southern  soldier  and 
leader  save  Lee — ^the  matchless,  the  unapproach- 
able— was  at  once  the  ideal  and  the  idol  of  his 
people. 

He  typified  in  manner,  in  sentiment,  in  convic- 
tion and  in  action  Southern  chivalry  in  its  high- 
est and  truest  sense  and  interpretation. 

He  was  a  product  and  ensample  of  that  exalted 
type  and  standard  of  courage,  refinement,  honor 
and  manhood  which  in  the  golden  age  of  the  South 
placed  her  people  in  the  forefront  of  intellectual, 
social  and  moral  progress  and  which  marked  and 
set  them  apart,  as  a  distinguished  Northern  states- 
man and  scholar  a  half  century  ago  declared  them 
to  be,  "the  highest  types  of  human  civilization  the 
world  ever  saw." 

The  history  of  the  great  struggle  of  forty  years 
ago  has  made  his  name  familiar  to  all  the  world, 
for  its  highest  pages  are  those  wherein  are  writ  the 
record  of  his  heroic  devotion  and  matchless  achieve- 
ments. 

He  was  at  Antietam  when  bayonet  crossed  bay- 
onet and  the  living  stood  upon  the  dead  till  blood 
ran  over  the  shoe  tops  of  heroes  who  struggled  and 
fought  with,  as  yet,  unmatched  valor. 

He  was  at  the  Wilderness  when  Lee's  dauntless 


124  Eeminiscences  of  an 

legions  in  their  long-drawn-out  battle  line,  ragged 
and  half  starved,  marking  their  footsteps  with 
their  own  blood,  with  shouts  of  defiance,  flung 
themselves  upon  the  freshly  recruited  ranks  of 
their  foes  and  hurled  back  Grant's  great  army  like 
chaff  before  the  storm. 

He  was  at  Gettysburg,  where  the  tide  of  war 
reached  its  highest  mark  and  where,  in  the  very 
jaws  of  defeat  and  disaster,  he  and  those  he  led, 
like  the  great  captain  that  he  was,  won  a  fame  as 
fadeless  as  the  stars. 

He  had  glorious  part  in  that  marvelous  cam- 
paign of  1864,  planned  and  executed  by  his  great 
commander,  Lee,  and  which  the  highest  military 
critics  of  the  world  have  with  one  voice  declared 
has  never  been  excelled  in  wisdom  of  conception 
and  glory  of  execution  in  ancient  or  modern  times. 

He  was  at  Appomattox  when  the  foe,  in  over- 
whelming numbers,  girdled  about  the  decimated 
and  dwindled  band  which  had  wrought  such  deeds 
of  valor,  and  when  the  desperate  closing  and  final 
charge  of  that  great  struggle  was  made  it  was  he 
that  led  it ;  and  his  falchion  flashed  in  the  face  of 
the  foe  and  clarion  voice,  trumpet  toned,  "rose  and 
rode  upon  the  wings  of  the  battle  as  the  scream  of 
the  eagle  rides  on  the  wings  of  the  storm." 

The  memory  of  that  tragic  hour  abode  with  him 
even  to  the  grave  and  gate  of  death,  for  but  a  little 
while  before  his  dauntless  spirit  passed  up  to  God 
he  gave  utterance  to  the  same  brave  words  which, 
out  of  the  fullness  of  his  heroic  heart,  he  had 
spoken   at   Appomattox:     "I   hope   Lee   will  not 


Ex-Confederate  Soldier.  125 

surrender.  I  can  cut  through  with  my  division." 
Even  while  his  rapt  and  parting  soul  was  prepar- 
ing for  its  eternal  flight,  while  upon  his  dying  ears 
fell  the  murmur  of  "the  shadowy  river  which  flows 
forever  to  the  unknown  sea,"  his  mind  wandered 
back  to  the  fields  of  battle  where  he,  the  very  genius 
of  war  incarnate,  had  so  often  ^mid  the  very  "fore- 
most and  focal  fire"  led  his  legions  'gainst  his 
country's  foes. 

Faithful  and  devoted  in  the  dark  days  of  war, 
he  with  like  devotion  and  fidelity  served  his  coun- 
try and  his  people  in  times  of  peace,  and  with  the 
loftiest  patriotism  and  broadest  charity,  by  pre- 
cept and  example,  sought  to  bring  about  reconcilia- 
tion between  long  estranged  sections  and  promote 
the  glory  of  a  reunited  nation.  Yet  for  his  deeds 
or  the  deeds  of  his  people  from  '61  to  '65  he  never 
apologized,  he  never  craved'  pardon ;  he  held  with 
unswerving  fidelity  to  his  convictions  and  to  his 
people  and  to  his  principles  was  faithful  even  unto 
death. 

When  any  man,  be  he  high  or 'low,  has  been 
touched  by  the  hand  of  death,  we  are  prone  to  ask 
how  stood  he  with  God. 

With  Gordon  all  is  well.  Like  his  great  com- 
patriots, Lee  and  Jackson,  and  Johnston  and 
Davis,  he  was  ready  for  the  Master's  call.  His 
"was  the  simple  faith  of  a  child."  He  illustrated 
his  profession  in  his  daily  walk  and  conversation 
and  was  not  ashamed  to  bow  as  an  humble  wor- 
shiper at    the  foot  of  that  Cross  where  is  found 


126  Reminiscences  of  an 

peace  alike  for  the  lowliest  and  the  loftiest  of  the 
children  of  men. 

Brave,  chivalric,  faithful  son  of  the  South,  fare 
thee  well.  Sweet  be  thy  sleep  in  the  bosom  of  thy 
native  land  which  thou  didst  love  so  well  and 
serve  so  faithfully! 

Thy  people  will  with  loving  hands  keep  thy 
tomb  and  history  will  guard  well  thy  glorious 
name. 


